An ABC of Faith

Courage

How courageous are you? It was the great Nelson Mandela who said "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

Paul in his letter to the Philippians writes, “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death.” (1:20)

My reaction when I read such a brave statement is; how would I react if faced with the situations Paul faced. Similarly, when I listen to Christian commentators who say that, “Christian courage is the willingness to say and do the right thing regardless of the earthly cost, because God promises to help you and save you on account of Christ. An act takes courage if it will likely be painful. The pain may be physical, as in war and rescue operations. Or the pain may be mental as in confrontation and controversy.” - I wonder if I have the strong enough to endure.

Then I read such verses as: Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Therefore, is it my unstable courage or my lack of faith that is the issue? All of us can recount a life-altering experience brought on by a major life change. And whether we bring on that change ourselves or find ourselves at the mercy of circumstances beyond our control, learning to accept that change and find a way forward isn’t easy.

Perhaps we can find strength the words of Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” So is it a question of not pondering,  will I be courageous enough, but will I rely enough on God.

Prayer

Oh Father in heaven, you sit on your throne, crowned in all majesty and glory. Your face shines on me and your hand touches me every day. You stand in courage. You crush evil and uphold righteousness. Lord, I pray that you bless me with the courage to do what is right in your eyes. May I never shake in the face of temptation, but instead, stand firm in your word. Amen.