Be strong and confident and courageous, for you will give this people as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers (ancestors) to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do [everything] in accordance with the entire law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:6-8

Happy New Year, everyone! We made it—praise God! We want to thank the Lord not just for the good things He brought our way in 2025, but also for the grace He provided during every challenge, trouble, and hardship we faced. It was His amazing grace that showed up our lives time and time again! I believe this year will be no different. Even now, the world is facing significant challenges, and I know that He is the same God, and His grace is still available to all who humbly submit to Him.

Throughout 2025, there was a word that consistently emerged, and I was certain it would be my focus for 2026: “courage.” Embracing this word took me some time. I struggled with this and often felt unworthy of calling myself courageous. When I think about it, I realize I became braver almost without noticing. It wasn’t something I planned. Taking on more responsibility and just trying to do my best, trusting God along the way, helped me face whatever came next. Maya Angelou once said, “I am convinced that courage is the most important of all virtues. Without courage, you cannot practice any other virtue consistently. You can be kind for a while; you can be generous for a while; you can be just for a while, merciful for a while, and even loving for a while. However, it is only with courage that you can be persistently and insistently kind, generous, and fair.”

Courage is a powerful word that captures the essence of living boldly and authentically. It empowers individuals to take significant steps, overcome obstacles, and embrace new opportunities. The emphasis on courage as the word of the year for 2026 highlights the importance of facing challenges head-on, embracing change, and pursuing goals without hesitation.

In Joshua 1:5.9 God speaks to Joshua, As I was with Moses, I will be exactly the way I am with you, but I need you to do something for me, Joshua. I need you to do two things. I need you to be strong and very courageous. Courage is not just the absence of fear; it is the triumph over it, allowing individuals to grow, learn, and gain wisdom and strength. It serves as a guiding light that encourages a shift in mindset, enabling a person to confront difficulties, danger, pain, and hardship with mental or moral strength. By embracing courage, individuals open themselves up to new opportunities, personal growth, and extraordinary achievements.

Dr. A.R. Bernard defines courage as aligning your mind, will, and emotions effectively to achieve the goal you are trying to accomplish.

Here’s what happens: your mind may go one way, your will another, and your emotions yet another. When you lack harmony—when you aren’t in agreement—you’re divided internally. Real power comes from agreement, not just with others but within yourself. A divided mind is unstable and unsure, leading to confusion and stress. When you aren’t in alignment, you keep changing your mind, riding an emotional rollercoaster, and never find peace.

Courage means your mind, will, and emotions all work together. Your mind is where your thoughts come from. When Jesus said, “Take no thought for tomorrow,” he showed that you can choose which thoughts to accept or reject as they come.

Courage drives us to step beyond our comfort zones and embrace new experiences. It requires resilience to be courageous, enabling us to bounce back from setbacks and challenges. Additionally, courage involves standing up for our beliefs, values, and principles, even when faced with opposition. Being courageous can inspire others, motivating them to take action and make positive changes in their own lives.

God calls us not to be strong based on our own resources or determination. We are to be strong and courageous because he is with us every day and at every moment. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you.” 

Whenever and wherever we are asked to lead, we must remain focused on the fundamental thing: Jesus and following his instructions. We need this reminder because when we are stressed, we tend to hunt for answers elsewhere and turn to others to supply what only God can. But let us pledge to facing 2026 with strength and courage, facing each problem with the help of God, so that we might be an example to the world of the greatness of who our God is, forever reigning!

Father, thank you for loving us first and completely. Thank you for the sacrificial gift of your son, Jesus. We thank you and praise you for the gift of eternal life. Thank you for calling us to share the good news of Jesus with others and for using us to demonstrate your love to others through the transformation of our hearts and minds. Even as we face the challenges of life and of leadership in our various roles and ministries, we receive your instructions to be strong and courageous. Today, we choose to surrender completely to you, that your strength might be seen even in our weakness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Courage involves aligning your mind, will, and emotions to tackle the tasks at hand and achieve the goals you’ve set. A.R. Bernard