Be Strong and Courageous: Finding Your God-Given Hill to Take

As men, we need a calling. We don't thrive in comfort - we thrive in the pursuit of something hard. We need a vision, a direction, a hill to climb or take. Without this, we flounder.

Think about what qualities you'd want in a potential son-in-law. Beyond character traits like honesty and trustworthiness, you'd want to see that he's going somewhere. That he has direction and purpose. This same principle applies to all men throughout their lives - we need to be going somewhere with purpose.

What Does God's Calling Look Like?

Looking at Joshua 1:6-9, we see God commissioning Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land - a 600-year-old promise finally being fulfilled. This passage reveals three key aspects of God's calling:

God's Calling Always Comes With a Promise

"Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance."

When God gives you a vision or calls you to something, it always includes a promise. For Joshua, the promise was that he would distribute the land to the tribes of Israel - a great honor. If God puts something on your plate, He knows you can handle it.

Your most fulfilling life isn't found in comfort or luxury. Scripture repeatedly shows men who pursued pleasure and comfort ending up miserable. But those who follow God's adventure live with purpose and meaning.

God's Vision Is Empowered by His Word

"Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you."

God's vision comes with His power, and that power is found in His Word. While the world calls you to pursue worldly success, comfort, and prestige, God calls you to obedience.

For Joshua, this meant carefully observing the instructions Moses had given - particularly in Deuteronomy. For us, it means following God's Word in everything. If God says do it, do it. If God says don't, then don't.

God's Calling Includes His Presence

"Haven't I commanded you be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

God never calls you to something without promising His presence. This is crucial - He doesn't just give you a task and leave you to figure it out alone.

Notice that God tells Joshua not to be "afraid or discouraged." The Hebrew word for discouraged (kahath) means "to be shattered, broken, or prostrate." In 1 Samuel 2:10, Hannah's prayer reveals what causes this: "Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered."

This gives us a profound insight: the only thing that will truly discourage you is opposing the Lord. If you're walking in His calling with His presence, you cannot be shattered.

What Happens When We Follow God's Calling?

Joshua's story illustrates what happens when we follow God's calling:

At Jericho, they followed God's seemingly illogical plan (marching around the city playing trumpets), and the walls fell without them lifting a sword.

At Ai, they tried to succeed without God's blessing and were defeated.

When facing the Anakim (the giants that had terrified Israel 40 years earlier), God reminded Joshua: "Do not be afraid of them." With God's presence, they conquered what had once seemed impossible.

What About When Things Go Wrong?

After the defeat at Ai, Joshua didn't hide his emotions or pretend everything was fine. Instead, "Joshua tore his clothes and fell before the ark of the Lord with his face to the ground until evening" (Joshua 7:6).

This warrior, who had been fighting for decades, openly grieved to God when he didn't understand what was happening. That's the manly thing to do - not being stoic and pretending everything's fine, but getting on your face before God and seeking answers.

God didn't chastise him but revealed the problem (sin in the camp) and gave direction. Once Joshua addressed the issue, they moved forward to victory.

Life Application

What hill of giants is God calling you to take today? As a father, husband, employee, or community member - what vision has He placed in your heart?

Joshua was about 80 years old when they crossed the Jordan. If you're still breathing, God still has a calling for you. If you've never thought about having a vision beyond your basic responsibilities, start praying for one. Ask God to give you a hill to climb, a purpose that goes beyond comfort and luxury.

Remember that your first calling is to salvation through Jesus (whose name is actually a variant of Joshua - both mean "Yahweh is salvation"). Perhaps your calling today is to repentance and faith - to accept that Jesus is Lord and that He died to offer you forgiveness and eternal life.

Ask yourself these questions this week:

What specific hill is God calling me to take in this season of my life?

Am I opposing God in any area, leading to discouragement?

How can I better align my daily actions with God's Word to empower His vision?

Where do I need to stop hiding behind stoicism and honestly grieve or seek God's direction?

The only way to live a truly fulfilling life as a man is to identify and pursue the God-given hill He's calling you to take - with His promise, His power, and His presence.

BeKind,

Pastor Mo