How do you do the impossible? 

To someone who has never made Jesus the Lord of his life, that would seem like a peculiar question. Natural people–people who live under the dictates of this world's system–never think about such things. In their minds, the impossible is simply that: Impossible! 

But if you're a believer, you know what it's like to ask that question...not just once, but again and again. You know what it's like for the Spirit of God to present you with a challenge so far beyond your ability that you can't even imagine how to meet it. 

There may have been times, for example, when you've heard the Lord say, I want you to be debt free, yet your bills were towering so far above your income, it seemed you could never pay them off. Times when you heard Him say, Rise, and be healed, even though doctors were saying you'd never be well again. There may have been times you heard Him say, Go preach My gospel around the world, when you didn't have enough money to get out of sight ... much less out of town! 

What did you do when you heard those things? 

Most likely, you turned every shade of pale and immediately started explaining to the Lord how impossible it would be for you to do what He had commanded. 

After reading the book of Joshua many times, I'm convinced that, as God began to give him his instructions, (Chapter 1) he was deeply shaken by the magnitude of the task that lay before him. 

After all, he was going to have to fill Moses' shoes. (How would you like to have to replace the fellow who parted the Red Sea?) It was his job to take this nation of people–many of whom were not altogether sure Joshua was even called of God in the first place–into a land filled with strong, enemy warriors. Once the land was taken, he was responsible for dividing it up among the two million Israelites. And he knew as well as you do that people have a tendency to get ugly when it comes to parceling out land. 

 I'm sure Joshua's mind was reeling as he realized he didn't have the knowledge, experience or natural resources it would take to get this job done. Yet, God didn't speak to Joshua about any of those things. He simply said:

As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 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 1:5-9).

Notice there was one phrase in that passage God repeated three times. Since God doesn't waste words, if He says something three times in a row, we should definitely pay attention. So let's look at each instance. 

In verse 6, He says, "Be strong and of a good courage." 

In verse 7, He says, "Only be thou strong and very courageous." 

God didn't tell Joshua to do a great many things. He didn't say, Go figure out how to get across the river. He didn't say, Check your military might and see if you have the firepower to conquer this land. 

He said, "Only...." (Did you see that? Only!) "Only be thou strong and very courageous!" In other words, "Joshua, your part in this assignment is to be strong and of a good courage. I'll take care of everything else. I'll win the battles. I'll keep the people in line. I'll show you how to divide the land. You just be courageous!" 

In the face of the impossible challenges that lie before us, God is giving us the same instruction He gave Joshua. He is saying, "Be strong and very courageous." 

He's not saying, You pray and I'll make you strong. He's saying, "You be strong–not in your own power, but in My might." 

Clearly, being courageous is our responsibility and it's not a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. It's a command. So let's look a little deeper into this issue of courage. Let's find out what it is and how to get it. 

The word translated courage in the Hebrew language means to be sharp, alert or clear-headed. It also means to be strong or confirmed. When I looked up the word confirmed in the dictionary, I found it meant to be strengthened, established and made more firm. 

Your point of fear is your point of failure. Wherever fear begins, faith ends. It takes courage to break that fear threshold, to push it back further and further until "be not afraid" is a reality in your life. 

How can you do that? 

Go back to Joshua 1:8 and you'll see. There, God gives us the key to building courage: 

"This book of the law [now that we're under the New Covenant, you could more accurately read that 'this book of the promise'] shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." 

You become strong and of a good courage by meditating on the book of promise day and night: by meditating on it until the impossibility God has put in your heart not only looks possible–it looks easy. 

Don't jump out ahead and force yourself to act when you're still quaking with fear. Relax! God knows that what He has called you to do is impossible. He knows you're having a problem with that fact. And He doesn't mind waiting while you draw on His Word and develop the courage you need for this impossible task. 

Put thoughts about your own weaknesses behind you and focus instead on the awesome ability of God. Start saying to yourself, "Hallelujah. God is with me! He will not in any way fail me, nor give me up, nor leave me without support. He will not, He will not, HE WILL NOT in any degree leave me helpless, nor forsake, nor let me down!" (Hebrews 13:5, The Amplified Bible). 

Then open your Bible and choose to believe what it says about you. Treat it as God's blood-sworn oath to you. Keep it in front of your eyes. Keep it in your ears. Keep it on your lips. Make a quality decision to stick with it until the might of God Himself rises up within you and overwhelms the fear. 

Make the decision to be strong and of good courage–and, like Joshua, choose to do the impossible!