Scaredy Cat

I have always been a cautious person (euphemism for scaredy cat), never one to risk life, limb or humiliation. But I have always been impressed with others who demonstrate bravery. When I was 13 my mom joined the Dallas police academy. At the time, I thought it was pretty neat because I didn't know any other kids whose moms were cops, but now I look back and marvel at the courage it must have taken for a 5 foot 4 inch stay-at-home mom in her mid thirties to join a bunch of big young guys in their 20s and endure the rigors of the boot camp-like police academy. And then after making it through the academy, she had to do the really scary stuff that we civilians don't appreciate nearly enough. My mom worked nights and when I think about the suspicious drivers she had to pull over, the dark alleys and empty buildings she had to search then I am in awe of her bravery. I don't think I could ever do any of those things.

Last night I read in the first chapter in the book of Joshua and to be honest the message God has for us in this verse scares me...

Joshua 1:6-9

⁶ "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. ⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Three times in three verses, God tells us to be strong and courageous. This scares me because one is not usually told to be courageous unless there is something to fear. So I worry about what it is that I am going to need strength and courage to face, but in these verses we also find the messages that we should spend time in the Word every day and that God will be with us wherever we go. So I will try to read my Bible every day, do my best to obey His Word and pray that when I am afraid, He will give me the strength and courage this scaredy cat needs.