Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.
― Billy Graham
God created us to be courageous people. He knew life’s journey wouldn’t always be relaxing, carefree, and simple. Yes, many days will feel like life is good, and the sun is shining. Other days we’ll step onto rocky paths and find them anything but easy to work our way through. It will take courage and confidence to stand strong. Otherwise, we’ll take a tumble.
Speaking from experience as one who’s dealt with boulder-sized encounters, I found, with God’s help, I can act with greater courage when the stakes are high. Instead of backing down, I was strong enough to make some major decisions for the good of my family. A loved one’s memory loss has turned our lives upside down in ways I could never have imagined. Our future looks different now. Does it feel fair? No. But it is our new reality.
Where Does Courage Come From?
Despite popular belief, courage is not found in self-effort. Nor is it found in the strength of an army. The real source of courage comes from the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Everyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ, as their Savior, has access to the Holy Spirit’s power.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV
God’s Gift of Courage
One of God’s most beneficial gifts is the character trait of courage. Without question, the triune God possesses this quality, and has purposely fashioned His children from the same mold. Sadly, we but don’t always live as if we understand God’s gift of courage. Even after saying Yes to Jesus, we can fail to figure out the born-again potential now living in us. Like many new things, it takes time and desire to learn how to put them to use before we fully appreciate how they can bless us.
Training Ourselves to be Courageous
Physical strength is important. When we go to a gym, we invest time to use the equipment properly. Training ourselves to be courageous starts by spending time in His word. The more we read, the more we understand God’s wisdom and character. And it begins to transform our inner selves to look more and more like Jesus. These biblical underpinnings empower us to be brave when life becomes rocky.
Making a Difference in the World
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Courage is more exhilarating than fear, and in the long run, it is easier.”
To make a difference in the world, we’ve got to take that first step. Make it a goal to grow in courage in alignment with our Creator’s plan.
Jesus exemplified courage by example. His intention is for us to do the same. Many Scriptures reference courage. Every disciple chooses to be courageous. For without courage, there’s no power to have a godly influence in our families, communities, or our world. Worse yet, we could be in danger of stumbling into unpleasant places.
When we are convinced that God has equipped us with courage, we’ll know when it’s best to speak up, how to pursue answers to life’s challenges, and we’ll be led to uncover fitting solutions. Let’s stand bold, as Esther did in biblical days. Let’s be strong when facing life’s giants.
“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NKJV
Prayer:
Mighty God and loving Father, open our minds to absorb Your gracious gift of courage. Lead us to Scripture passages that will train our thoughts to be courageous and drive out all fear. As Jesus taught by example, bless us with the inner conviction to stand strong when facing tough decisions. Enlarge our resolve to do the right thing despite opposition that comes our way. May our ears hear the Holy Spirit prompting us to act on Your power alive in us. Amen
Coaches Corner:
Do you find it hard to speak up and advocate for yourself or others? Courage is often a learned habit. If it is your desire to become more confident in this character trait, a Christ-centered professional life coach can be of help. The first 30-minute session is free. https://www.rebuildingfamilies.net/a-life-coach-wants-to-help-you-achieve-your-goals/
Shout Out:
This month I am featuring one of my books, Mother’s Fury. This book exemplifies courage rising up to overcome childhood abuse.
ISBN 978-1-724289-21-6
©2015-2016, 2018 Rebuilding Families® Mother’s Fury: Releasing the Trauma of Childhood Abuse, 2nd Edition
To order a copy:
Mother’s Fury at Amazon.com
