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When God gave Joshua the task of leading the Israelite, he not only gave Joshua the physical strength to do so, letting him win the battle and so on. But also God cared about Joshua's psychological state. He understands that Joshua who was the successor of Moses, such a great leader, might feel inferior or not feared by the people. So He lifted Joshua up in the sight of the people. God knows and cares about my thoughts. Not only he wants to be served by me, he wants me to have a healthy psychological states as well. He doesn't want me to be an old lady who is sorrowful and rod to death. God cares for my sadness, happiness, concerns, worries, and fears. He want me to overcome as well. He assigns the task, he will give victory. The victory in his own term, not in my term- getting A. vs 21: though it is painful in the offering, God is looking for someone who doesn't look out for own interest, but the interest of God (who cares for people more than himself also). vs 27 this reminds me that bad things like illness, death and sorrow happens to God's servant as well. Not that we always look so victorious, have joy, happy all the time. Preach and many come to God, sow and able to reap abundantly, and no one is sad or ill. In fact, there are always persecutions, sickness, beatings, sleepless nights, worries, death, and many other kind of challenges in christian walk. But then because God is so worthy, and he is the only truth, no matter what we are experiencing emotionally, and feeling physically, we must NEVER give up. we are not fighting w/o a purpose or reason, not like a man beating the air. we have a heavenly goal and treasure. We have a heavenly home. We invest in eternal things, b/c we know that God is worthy. And although we experience bad things, we know that God has the BEST for us. i used to glorify in my flesh, thinking that i was smart, was legalistically righteous, and zealous for the work of God. But he opened my eyes to see how wretched and limited I am. I need to know the wonder of knowing Jesus. That I will consider the things of this world rubbish and losses, in order that I may know Jesus more and more, and grow more and more in faith, and to experience his power; this also, is through FELLOWSHIP of suffering. We always hear about having fellowship through eating, mingling around, etc. Here Paul said through sufferings. immersing in sufferings, and even in death, experiencing the power of God, who is able to raise us up, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. By letting us experiencing his power, presence, love and mercy more and more each day.