Our bible passage comes from Joshua 1:9 

'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you

wherever you go.' 

The children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and it was up to Joshua to lead them into the promised land. He’d have to claim the land from its current inhabitants, fight and lead battles, and provide spiritual leadership for a large group of people. As he was feeling the overwhelming weight of the task before him, the Lord offered these words of encouragement.

These comforting words can apply to all of us as we seek to live a good life and overcome our own unique challenges.

We ask the children, "What does it mean to be strong?"

Part of being strong and of a good courage means trusting in the Lord as our true source of strength. In Joshua’s case, he didn’t have all the answers for the challenges before him. But he was confident to go forward anyway, acting in faith. Like Joshua, we rarely have all the answers to our personal challenges. But God promises that when we turn to Him for guidance, we will succeed. God is all-powerful and all-knowing. He has the answers and the strength we need to face any challenge before us. He was with Joshua, and He will be with us.