I had the privilege some years back to work with strategic thought leader Leslie Darling, who once inspired me with a phrase she had come up with, “motivation equals value times confidence” (or M = V x C).  It’s a phrase I both believe in and have often used in the work environment.

The concept of the phrase hits at the heart of adoption and usage of business solutions.  If I am an end-user trying out a new application but don’t have the confidence to do well within it, motivation to use it will be lacking.  On the other hand, if I have every confidence I can learn the new system with ease but do not see the value in it, I also will not be motivated to use it.  Motivation to use a new system requires both confidence and value.

I love Sunday morning conversations with my husband! This past Sunday we were discussing a new sermon series at church that zeros in on the book of Joshua. If there is one scripture that has been most popular from this book, it’s Joshua 1:9.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Many who have read the book or heard the stories of Joshua are often impressed with his leadership and rarely think of this great leader as one who lacked courage.  And yet both Moses and God told Joshua to be strong and take courage multiple times.

As I was talking with my husband it occurred to me how much M = V x C applied to Joshua. Like so many of us, Joshua was susceptible to being driven by fear. It is prominent these days, too, wouldn’t you agree? 

The book of Proverbs tells us where there is no vision, people “perish”. The Hebrew word translated as perish is “para”, which means “let go, let alone”. It lends to the idea of a society that is out of control.  This got me to thinking more deeply how both Moses and God were casting a vision for Joshua as he led the nation of Israel. The vision? Don’t fear, God is with you and has given you the land!

Consider the root of fear is this:

• A lack of trust in God.  We say we believe with our mouths but our hearts are far from intimacy with God Himself. We know little of who God really is.
• A lack of understanding of our destiny. Why were we created and for what purpose are we here?

The soul who has both trust in God and an understanding of their destiny cannot be driven by fear. For them, M = V x C looks like this:

Motivation (courage, boldness) equals

Value (knowing your destiny) times

Confidence (a complete trust in our powerful Creator and Most High God)

Think of the Apostle Paul when he was shipwrecked off the island of Malta. As a prisoner he was being escorted to Rome.  Having been warned by God of the pending disaster of the ship on which he was traveling, Paul took the time to speak the captain and fellow passengers, telling them to “take courage”.  It did not matter that the ship was wrecked and lost, Paul knew his destiny was not yet complete, and he had full trust in God that he would not perish in the process.

Think of Jesus as he stood trial.  Knowing who He was and whose He was, did not fear his unjust accusers or find it necessary to defend himself against their false accusations. His advice?

“Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:28

Jesus knew that our physical body is not the whole of who we are.  We are a soul that happens to be clothed in a body. The body will one day be discarded as easily as we might now take off our coat.  It is the soul that lives on into eternity.

Don’t fear, take courage! Catch the vision of who God has created you to be and the purpose in this life to which He is calling you, and trust that He’s got you through it all, no matter what.