Let’s Be Brave
I wish it weren’t so, but if I’m honest, I like to keep up with the latest trends. A few years back it was very trendy to be “brave”. Sara Bareilles crooned about it, Disney released a feature-length film called “Brave” and Christians sang “You Make Me Brave” in church for months. Yet, in talking with other women, rarely do we ever describe ourselves as brave. In fact, often it’s the opposite: we’re scared, anxious, fearful or insecure.
To be certain, there is plenty in this world to scare us—globally and in our own personal journey. And being ‘brave’ may be trendy, but a Biblical call to courage has always been a Christian’s weapon against fear and uncertainty. Sadly, it does not appear to be something we easily or often possess. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be repeated so often.
Joshua, for instance, is cautioned three (3) times to be strong and courageous—just in chapter one. Moses, arguably, one of the most influential men in all of scripture, was also told to be courageous. Lest we assume courage falls only to Old Testament followers, we also see these words in 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Be on your So, to summarize, courage is something we need, but likely do not inherently possess. “Add it to the list”, you might say. I mean, some of us are quite accustomed to living ‘a day late and a dollar short’, right? But, here’s the thing: God doesn’t call us to something He is unwilling to equip us for. The courage He calls us to is something He provides for us. Joshua 1:9 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go”. Our courage comes from the truth that God is with us. And, unlike Joshua who was interacting with God corporately, on behalf of the nation of Israel, we have His very Spirit—possessing the same power that raised Jesus from the dead—housed inside us. Therein lies our courage.
Thankfully, God gives us instruction in addition to His presence. Refer back to 1 Corinthians 16:13.
Be on guard:
Life is full of the unexpected. Guarding our minds, hearts, actions and decisions will protect us, and allow us to move forward ‘into the unknown’ (like Elsa) with confidence! It’s much easier to be full of courage when you have guarded yourself against the attacks of the enemy.
Stand firm in the faith:
Your faith in Christ means we are ultimately victorious. Our faith in Christ means we are ultimately healed, redeemed, loved, forgiven, chosen, and cherished. Our faith lights up the pathway to usher in Godly courage.
We will all face seasons that require some courage. God invites us to rely on His presence, guard ourselves against the enemy and stand firm in our faith, where we’ll find courage abounding. Whatever we’re facing, let’s be brave today!
