24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Here we have the antidote to the despairing hearts of believers under trials and temptations. They are exhorted to “be of good courage”. It is not at all uncommon that God’s people become weary and disheartened in this world. Spiritual and moral courage is much needed to inspire our hearts to do right, especially in adverse circumstances.
In most Scriptural instances of the exhortation to be courageous, it is coupled with the exhortation to be strong. When courage is gone, the heart would melt in the fear of adversity. So the exhortation is given, “Be strong and be of good courage.”
In Deuteronomy 31:6, through Moses the Lord told the people of Israel who had to battle the giants who dwelt in their promised land, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Their new leader Joshua, who had to lead Israel to conquer the promised land, was also told in Deuteronomy 31:7, “Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.” This exhortation to be strong and of good courage had been repeatedly given to Joshua and Israel (Joshua 1:6,9,18; 2:11; 10:25).
Christians have very many duties to be carried out; and they are often arduous. We have heard the troubled Christian asking, "How would I overcome these problems and fulfil all my tasks?” Another one murmurs, “I am already exhausted. Where shall I get the strength to do these things?” Every Christian must remember the exhortation, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
In our verse, we are given the divine promise that “he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” God would give us His supernatural aid, strengthening our hearts with His gracious favour. We must not let our hearts become pessimistic. Let not doubt and gloom fill our hearts. We must hope in the Lord. Distrusting hearts will grow weary and fearful. By trusting God’s promise, let us behave valiantly for the Lord. Expect trials. Remember the promises. Maintain faith. Serve the Lord.