God told Joshua three times in chapter one to be strong and have courage. He told Joshua this because he was afraid. There is no point in telling courageous people to have courage.
Why was Joshua afraid? He was getting ready to do something he had never done before. He was getting ready to lead people into battle, into unknown territory. He had no idea what tomorrow held.
We live in a world that perpetuates fear and drama. Much ado is often made of nothing, but it causes us to insulate ourselves from anything that might hurt us. Most of us are in no real physical danger. At best, we might get emotionally hurt. Most likely it is only that we might get hurt feelings.
If you place a mouse in the center of a bright room, it is going to run off to the perimeter and look for a place to hide. It does so to protect itself from predators. People tend to do the same thing. We run from being seen or heard. Not because of physical danger, but because of what someone might say about us.
The number one phobia on most of the lists is public speaking. Why are we afraid to speak in public? We are afraid because of what someone might say about us. Maybe they will laugh. Maybe they will disagree. Maybe they will criticize.
That fear completely vanishes when two things happen. The first is when you truly believe in what you are saying. The second is when you don’t care what anyone thinks about you. If you can believe in what you are doing to the point that what anyone says about it doesn’t matter, they fear will vanish.
What has you hiding like a mouse today? Why don’t you believe more in what you are doing? Why do you care what that person who is clearly wrong has to say about it?
Come out from the shadows. The rest of us want to hear what you have to say.
Joel Stiff's Adventure 