Daily devotion – Strength in weakness
Joshua 1:7
“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”
God’s Call to Joshua – When Joshua was called to take on the immense responsibility of leading Israel after Moses, he was understandably overwhelmed. How could he step into the shoes of a man like Moses and lead an entire nation into the Promised Land? Joshua’s doubts, fears, and feelings of inadequacy were real, yet God’s command to him was clear: “Be strong and very courageous.”
God didn’t command strength and courage because Joshua was inherently strong; rather, He spoke these words because Joshua felt weak and uncertain. It’s in these moments of human frailty that God steps in and calls His people to rise to the tasks He has prepared for them.
Strength in Weakness – God often uses those who feel inadequate because they are the ones who know they cannot rely on themselves. Before God can use us, He must first empty us of our pride, self-reliance, and personal plans. He brings us to a place of humility—a place where we are fully dependent on Him.
This principle is contrary to the world’s ways, where only the strongest and most self-sufficient succeed. But God works differently. “He gives power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29).
Ehud, a left-handed judge, was used by God precisely because of his unconventional strength.
Gideon, who doubted his own abilities, led a small army to defeat the Midianites, not by his own power but by God’s.
Are you in a position today where God can use you? Or is there still too much of you—your plans, your pride, or your self-reliance—blocking His way?
God calls us to lay aside our own strength so that His strength can shine through. When we feel weak, overwhelmed, and insufficient, we are in the perfect position for God to work powerfully in and through us.
Be encouraged that your weaknesses and doubts are not barriers to God’s purposes—they are the very tools He uses to refine and prepare you for His work. Like Joshua, be strong and courageous, knowing that God will provide the strength, guidance, and courage you need.
Prayer: Lord, I feel weak and inadequate, but I trust in Your strength and wisdom. Empty me of myself so that You can work through me. Help me to be strong and courageous, stepping out in faith and obedience to Your call. Amen.