As one year closes and another opens before us, many of us feel a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. The calendar turns, but questions remain. What will 2026 hold for our families, our church, and our faith? In Joshua 1, God speaks into a moment very much like ours. Moses is gone. A new chapter has begun. The future feels weighty, and the responsibility before Joshua is enormous.

Into that moment, God does not begin with a detailed plan or a list of guarantees. Instead, He gives a repeated command that echoes through the passage. Be strong and courageous. This call is not rooted in Joshua’s personality or experience, but in something far deeper. It rests on what God has promised, on the assurance of God’s presence, and on the call to live by God’s word.

As we prepare to enter 2026, we need the same foundation. Strength and courage do not come from confidence in ourselves or from knowing what lies ahead. They come from trusting the God who keeps His promises, who goes with His people wherever they go, and who calls them to walk faithfully according to His truth. This passage invites us to step forward into the new year anchored in Him.

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Speaker: Pastor David Hallett