Be Strong and Courageous

Life can be hard and it can break your heart to hear of friends going through challenges that rock their world.  On Saturday, good friends were shocked to hear that their eleven year old son had Leukemia.  While his prognosis is excellent, it will be a long road back to health and my heart breaks for the fact that in an instant their lives have forever been changed.

Yet through it all, they are pressing forward relying on their faith and have adopted a family motto for the battle ahead; Be Strong and Courageous.
In my CBS (Community Bible Study) class, we've been studying Joshua and in the first chapter alone, God commands Joshua to "be strong and courageous" three times.  When God says something that many times, He means it.  Our Bible memory verse for last week was Joshua 1:9 
"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."

This is the perfect verse for Cole's family as they walk through this storm in the months ahead. Not only are they not to be discouraged or terrified, they are to be confident that God is right there in the midst of it, at their side, feeling their fear, hearing their prayers, and bringing them comfort. 

I'm confident that the story this family will have to share on the other side of this storm will bring God great glory, it will be one of God's constant presence and peace.  He alone will see them through and He will never leave them or forsake them.

Be Strong and Courageous Cole.  I can't wait to hear how God is using this young man in the years ahead to do mighty things, just like Joshua!
I love this song by Matthew West "Strong Enough" and I think it's a great reminder to that God will give us the strength and courage to face the challenge He sets before us.  We don't have to be the strong one as Christ will be our strength when we are weak. 

We'll be praying for you everyday.