Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
{Joshua 1:9}
I’m sitting in a coffee shop on an ordinary morning and my courage feels as drained as my latte, nothing but a bit of foam left at the bottom of my cup, nothing but a little hope left at the bottom of my heart.
We all get to this place as humans. It is part of living in this world. God knows this because He lived here too. He understands what it means to skin our knees, lose our grip on dreams, and want to hide under the covers.
I used to think success meant never growing weary. But I have come to understand it means not giving up.
It doesn’t mean feeling strong all the time; it’s seeking God in our weakness.
It’s not looking as though we have it all together; it’s knowing God alone holds us together.
Success doesn’t mean finishing first—it means taking one more step of obedience.
Battling discouragement doesn’t mean we’re failing—it means we’re fighting. Even when we can’t feel it, see it, or even imagine it, our victory is still sure. Not because of us or anything we do, but because of the undefeatable God who lives within us.
XOXO
Holley Gerth
MORE
This post is an excerpt from my gift book Promises from God for Life’s Hard Moments, which includes fifty-two promises from God’s Word, heartfelt prayers, encouraging quotes, and helpful insights on matters such as anxiety, brokenness, condemnation, distractions, and more.
On the More Than Small Talk podcast this week, we’re answering this question: Where would you go if you were going to run away from home? Click here to listen to Episode 39: Want to Run Away? as we discuss what it means to thrive right where you are.
