Leading The Way - Devotional for August 30
August 30, 2026
A Plan for Victory
By Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.
None of the heroes of faith we learn about in Hebrews 11 would have experienced victory with a weak, ineffective faith. Each of them was courageous in their faith because they knew the enormity of God’s power: “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing” (Isaiah 40:26). And they trusted that He would follow through on His promises: “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19). They knew that if God commanded them to act in battle, then God had a plan for victory. God’s plans may not always make sense to us, but if God is truly speaking, then we must follow in obedience.
Can you imagine what Joshua must have felt walking in circles around Jericho? Or what Gideon must have felt facing an army “thick as locusts” (Judges 7:12)? Yet they followed through with God’s plan because they had courageous faith.
Only courageous faith will keep us going when we are puzzled by our circumstances, suffering for our choices, and walking through the valley. Following God’s plan will not always be easy, but we can trust that the all-powerful God will continue to equip us, guide us, and strengthen us in our battles.
We must always trust in the good and holy God who will never make a mistake. We must persistently believe in the sovereign hand of God, who is working all things “for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). We must continuously call on Him in prayer and follow Him with all our hearts. We must remember that even in our suffering we are victorious because our eternal dwelling place is in heaven. No matter what situations or enemies we face, we can be confident because Christ has won the greatest victory—and that is a great foundation for courageous faith.
Prayer: God, thank You for the examples of courageous faith found in Your Word. Help me to always trust You and Your plan for victory. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4).
Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon They Were Just like Us, We Can Be like Them: LISTEN NOW
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Watch Dr. Michael Youssef on this week's broadcast of Leading The Way at LightSource.com.
