Be Strong and Courageous

Throughout the Bible, we can find passages where one person is admonishing another to "be strong and courageous.” Why are they making such a statement? Where does their confidence come from? We find such a statement in First Chronicles 28:20. In this passage, David is instructing Solomon on a very difficult task. He tells Solomon to be strong and courageous. He tells him not to be afraid or discouraged. Where does David get his confidence? The passage goes on to tell us the answer. It reads, "...for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you..."

The Lord God, the God of David, the greatest king of all time, is with you. These words came to my mind yesterday as I talked with an old friend on the telephone. I was driving from our home in Tamarac to a church service in Plant City. As I frequently do, I spent that time in prayer, praise, and meditation on the Lord. As I was driving through some of Florida's undeveloped landscape on the Ronald Reagan Parkway, the Holy Spirit began to burden my heart for an old friend.

Ken and I have known each other from my early days at Publix. He was part of a workplace Bible study that I participated in early in my career. He and I were on the same senior management team later in my career. Several years ago, Ken's wife, Debra, was diagnosed with cancer. Ken and I prayed over that situation and believed God for a complete and total healing. They have remained on my prayer list since then, but now the Holy Spirit was bringing them to the forefront.

I called Ken as I continued to drive through central Florida. We talked for quite a while, discussing life at Publix, the prospects for a higher stock price, and about Debra. It was while Ken was telling me about Debra's current struggles that the verse form First Chronicles came to my memory. I have preached this verse many times and was planning to preach it again that night. However, Ken's attitude put it in a new light.

Ken is living out the concept of being "strong and courageous.” Ken is a walking and talking example of someone who is not "afraid or discouraged.” How can he be this way in the face of all that he and Debra are going through? It is simple, because the Lord God, the God of David, the God of Wayne, and the God of Ken and Debra, is with him.

Ken's attitude reflects the attitude of Christ when He faced His greatest challenges. Is he struggling? Yes, every day. However, he knows where his strength comes from. It was my privilege to pray with Ken and for Debra as I continued my drive. When the call ended, I felt blessed. It is a blessing to have a friend like Ken, who shows how to live a life that is an example of being "strong and courageous.” I hope his example is one that I can follow whenever difficult days come my way.