Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take all your fighting men and attack Ai, for I have given you the king of Ai, his people, his town, and his land.”
Joshua 8:1 NLT
Just a day after a deflating defeat at the hands of the people of Ai, Joshua was downcast, even asking why they had bothered to cross the Jordan. They had received a severe reprimand for hidden sin but had purged themselves of that sin, and they obviously had doubts if the victory of Jericho was a one-of.
The city of Ai represents an obstacle in my life as a Christian. It might just be a doubt, or it might be a seemingly insurmountable problem. It might be a real fear, or it might be something which is a hangover from sin.
But sin, once it is forgiven, is forgotten. It’s a new day, a new chance. My God is with me and he is there with a way and a plan by which I can rid myself of the problem and move on. So why should I worry? Why should I be afraid? Why should I be discouraged?
I shall not be afraid! I shall not be discouraged! I shall be strong and courageous!