#24 NEHEMIAH | COURAGE
Dr. Stephen Phinney: It was nothing short of a miracle when I finally tapped into Yeshua’s leadership from within. My courage reflected the courage of Yeshua.
COURAGE ROOTED IN COVENANT
Biblical courage is not bravado. It is not built on self-assurance or emotional hype. Rather, it flows from divine presence and promise.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9
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A Biblical Yeshua Centered Reflection
This kind of leadership courage flows from Yeshua’s presence and promise. In Joshua 1:9, the Lord commands strength and courage—not as a gentle suggestion, but as a calling grounded in His unshakable faithfulness. For those who walk in covenant with God, courage becomes an act of trust.
In my childhood, courage stirred within me like a small, bubbling stream—quiet but alive, hidden beneath layers of silence and self-protection. I could feel its gentle current, whispering of possibilities, daring me to speak up, to step out, to dream. But fear stood like a dam at its edge—fear of rejection, of failure, of standing alone. So I buried that stream beneath a surface of caution, convincing myself that safety was strength. It took years—and grace—to begin breaking that dam and letting courage rise.
Satan wanted to destroy God’s little warrior!
🔹 Strength that Proceeds from Obedience
When Joshua was called to lead Israel into the Promised Land, he was facing the unknown: fortified cities, fierce enemies, and the weight of leadership left behind by Moses. That is how I felt about life in general. God’s words—"Have I not commanded you?"—remind us that courage is not a personality trait; it is a response to God’s authority living within us. To obey is to step into situations that may terrify us, knowing the Commander goes before us.
I was utterly terrified to step into my calling in Yeshua. The weight of it felt too holy, too vast, too exposing, fearing more rejection. I knew He was drawing me out—not just into a task, but into His transformational leadership. And yet everything in me recoiled: the fear of failing Him, of being misunderstood, of having to let go of the control I had clung to for so long. It wasn’t just the calling that frightened me—it was the surrender it required. But even in my trembling, He remained patient. His mercy waited for my “yes.” And when I finally stepped forward, it wasn’t into certainty, but into His indwelling strength and peace.
🔹 A Courage Beyond Circumstance
Biblical leaders like Joshua, Esther, David, and Paul displayed courage not because their circumstances were easy, but because their hearts were fixed on the One who never changes. Their boldness rose from God-centered confidence, not self-assurance. They faced enemies, thrones, lions, and shipwrecks with the unwavering belief that God was greater than their fear.
I had to come face to face with the truth that my circumstances—no matter how familiar or formidable—were not the final word over my life.
God was calling me beyond what I could see, feel, or control. Stepping into His prophetic calling meant releasing the comfort of predictability and embracing the unknown with trembling faith. It wasn’t a path paved with assurance from the world, but with the steady hand of Yeshua guiding me step by step. I had to choose to believe that His promise was greater than my present, and that obedience would unlock a purpose far larger than my limitations. It was in that surrender that I found strength—not of my own making, but born of the Spirit.
It’s no different for all of us. The courage God calls us to is not the absence of fear—it is obedient faith in the presence of fear, knowing that His promises will hold.
🔹 The Strength of Messiah Within
For believers today, the call to be “strong and courageous” finds its fulfillment in Messiah Yeshua, who overcame sin, death, and fear itself. Through His Spirit, we are no longer bound to timid living. As Paul writes, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
It was nothing short of a miracle when I finally tapped into Yeshua’s leadership from within. For so long, I relied on my own strength, my own wisdom, my own will to lead—but it always left me striving, never resting. Then, in the quiet places of surrender, I began to hear His voice—not above me, not beside me, but within me. His Spirit began to lead with a clarity and authority that no circumstance could shake. What once felt like pressure became peace. What once demanded control now invited trust. And in that divine exchange, I discovered the truest freedom: to be led not by my fears or ambition, but by the indwelling life of the Messiah Himself.
Courage is not something we conjure up; it is something imparted by the indwelling presence of Christ. As we abide in Him, our hearts are emboldened—not by what we bring, but by who dwells within us.
🔹 The Courage to Lead, to Love, to Stand
Indwelling courage looks like leading with conviction even when misunderstood… loving when it’s easier to withdraw… and standing for truth when compromise is more comfortable. It means building walls like Nehemiah, confronting Goliaths like David, and enduring hardship like Paul—all while anchored in grace and fueled by divine strength.
Today, I accept the most difficult calling of eternity—to suffer, if need be, for the sake of God’s prophetic purposes. I no longer shrink back in fear or hesitation, for I know the One who calls me also walks within me. This path is not paved with ease, but with obedience. It is a fire that refines, not consumes. And so, with courage not of my own, but born of Yeshua’s presence within, I rise with relentless pursuit—determined to bear His Word, to proclaim His truth, and to endure for His glory. Whatever the cost, I belong to the purposes of the King.
Courage, in the biblical sense, is always linked to presence—“for the Lord your God is with you.” With that assurance, we step into each challenge not with trembling hands but with steadfast hearts. For it is through Yeshua’s strength within that we rise, not as those who shrink back, but as those who stand firm.
Yes, as difficult as it is to say this, I openly embrace rejection for His name's sake.
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