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How many of you have seen the old classic, Wizard of Oz? It is recognized as one of the greatest films in cinema history.

American author Meg Cabot wrote:

Courage is not the absence of fear but the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all. For now, you are traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he writes,

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Paul knows from personal experience that our courage in God can overcome our doubt in ourselves.

A spirit of fear will throw your life into chaos.

· It will cause you to lose hope and direction.
· It will turn you inward instead of outward.
· It will isolate you and keep you in darkness.
· It will cause you to doubt God and God’s ability to use you.
· Fear will keep you from moving forward.

There is a difference between Anxiety and Fear. In his book, Less Fret, More Faith, Max Lucado writes:

Anxiety is trepidation. It’s a suspicion, an apprehension. Life in a minor key with major concerns. Perpetually on the pirate ship’s plank. You’re part Chicken Little and part Eeyore. The sky is falling, and it’s falling disproportionately on you.

He continues:
Anxiety and fear are cousins but not twins. Fear sees a threat. Anxiety imagines one. Fear screams, Get out! Anxiety ponders, What if? Fear results in fight or flight. Anxiety creates doom and gloom.

Fear is the pulse that pounds when you see a coiled rattlesnake in your front yard. Anxiety is the voice that tells you, Never, ever, for the rest of your life, walk barefooted through the grass. There might be a snake . . . somewhere.

When our fear increases, our courage decreases.

To “be strong and courageous” means to be steady, determined, bold, and unafraid.

Joshua had to make a decision. Was he going to give up or grow up?

Let’s look at the four things God tells Joshua:

1. He took personal responsibility to lead himself and lead others.
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.

2. He was obedient to apply what he had learned from his Godly leader.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

3. He learned God’s Word and then obeyed God’s Word.
8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

4. He overcame his fear by pressing into God’s presence.
9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

What’s stopping you from pressing through? It’s not time to give up, it’s time to grow up. God is with you and He will never leave you.

Romans 8:31 [AMP] says, If God is for us who can be against us, who can be our foe when God is on our side?