“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9. Joshua 1:9.

During one of my regular walks in the neighborhood, I noticed something that caught my attention. A man was out with his great dane, a huge dog. Out of nowhere, a tiny chihuahua darted over, barking loudly and heading straight for the great dane’s legs. Surprisingly, the big dog didn’t react. Watching this, I was reminded that even the smallest can stand tall when they have confidence.

I find it fascinating that chihuahuas are known for being lively, alert, quick, devoted, and brave. Even though they are small, when domesticated, they are very confident and protective of their space. Why is that? It’s because their master is always nearby to support them.

That image brought to mind a spiritual lesson: Just as the chihuahua was fearless because it knew its master was near, we, too, should remember that when we are facing the giants in our lives, our Lord and Master is closer than the very air we breathe!  He will deliver us by the power of His might. As Paul writes, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesians 6:10.

My friends, spirituawe all face spiritual giants. They can come in such forms as rejection, loneliness, illness, fear, loss, uncertainty, and just outright attacks from the archenemy of our souls! But let us find assurance in the words of the Lord to Joshua that state: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9.

Let me call up a biblical witness—remember David, a young shepherd boy facing Goliath, a nine-foot giant. He courageously confronted the giant because his faith for deliverance rested solely in the Lord God Almighty. That very day, God gave him the victory!

What giants are you facing right now? Has God ever helped you through something that seemed impossible? I believe He has, because as God’s beloved children, we all have our own crosses to bear. But we can be sure that it’s by His power and might that we stand in victory. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10.

So, even when life gets tough, take courage, stay strong, and rest in the assurance that the Lord and Master of our souls is in complete control. He is a very present help in trouble, and we can cling to His command! “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deuteronomy 31:6.

Yes, we all face giants, but let’s decide—like that little chihuahua—to be lively, alert, devoted, and above all, courageous. We don’t have to fear, for our Lord has promised to be with us always: “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5b. Remember, the message is clear: we can face our spiritual giants with courage, because God is our mighty fortress.

A mighty fortress is our God,

A mighty shield and weapon;

He helps us free from ev’ry need.

That hath us now o’ertaken.

God’s blessings of strength and peace, hold on, God’s got this, too!