I have a special gift for you today, Readers. Please welcome my writing colleague, Jon Stolpe as he shares his thoughts with us about courage. Welcome Jon!
When you think of courage, who or what comes to mind?
Maybe it’s the lion from The Wizard of Oz who fought through
fear and insecurity until he discovered courage in the quest to conquer the
Wicked Witch of the West.
Maybe it’s Maximus Decimus Meridius, the Roman general
portrayed by Russel Crowe in Gladiator, who stood up to the Roman authorities
and the competitors in the gladiator arena.
Maybe it’s Amelia Earhart who challenged the limitations and
obstacles of flight and inequality to courageously go where no woman had dared
to go.
When we think of courage it’s easy to think of the strong,
the bold, and the heroic. We often
assign courage to those in the limelight – sports stars, politicians, movie
stars, rock stars, and other celebrities.
It’s true that many of famous people have demonstrated courage in
overcoming tremendous odds. I don’t mean
to diminish their accomplishments, but I think we can find deeper meaning for
courage if we look to those around us and to those outside the spotlight.
Courage is about facing your fears, taking leaps of faith,
and standing up to life’s challenges.
Framing courage with this definition brings others to mind. I think of my Grandma Miller who lived for
years with a smile and a positive attitude despite the pain and suffering
caused by a life of multiple sclerosis and multiple knee replacements. I think of Kinzey
Lynch, a blind teammate on my daughter’s high school cross country team,
who runs races and practices across uneven terrain with the help of a guide; he
competes with a determination, a smile, and courage like few others I’ve
seen. And I think of my wife who
overcame illness and a challenging recovery from what seemed hopeless at the
time. And now she’s a promoter of HOPE
to others facing challenging circumstances.
I don’t know what you’re facing today. The pain you’re dealing with may seem
insurmountable. The valley you are
experiencing may appear deep and dark.
You may be afraid. You may be
intimidated. You may believe that leap
of faith is way beyond the realm of possibility.
God is calling you to have courage.
“Be strong and very
courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not
turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever
you go. Keep this Book of the Law
always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful
to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9
God’s direction to Joshua applies to us
today. Here are three simple reminders to help you
have courage:
Courage comes from knowing and obeying God's Word. Just as God instructed Joshua, we must read God's Word, study God's Word and obey God's Word. God's Word provides a foundation for courage for those who know and obey it.
Courage comes from remembering God is with you! "If God is for us, who can be against us." No matter what you are going through, God is there with you. (See Psalm 139:7-12)
Courage takes strength. I'm not talking about physical strength. Courage involves an inner strength that comes from God. God doesn't proclaim an easy road when He instructs Joshua, but he promises success that can only come from God. We will need strength, focus, and determination to overcome the fear and discouragement in our lives.
Who is in your “Courage” Hall of Fame?
How has God’s Word given you courage?
What are you going through today that requires courage?
Jon Stolpe is passionate about small groups, missions,
family, marriage, parenting, and Philadelphia sports. Jon is also a
writer and blogs daily at Jon Stolpe
Stretched. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wonderful wife, Leanne, and
their two kids. Connect with him on Twitter, Facebook or
his blog.
9 comments:
I think of my students who are bullied who somehow get out of bed each day and face the day and the ridicule out brings. I think of my students woo are three frequent fliers in my office, The "bad" kids who everyone had given up on. Their parents, their friends, their teachers, and ultimately themselves. But they still come for some sense of stability in a life full of trauma. More I must help them find hope and stay to dream.
My Courage Hall of Fame:
My mother. She was one of the strongest women I know.
My brother. He's been battling cancer, yet he's more optimistic than those who are healthy.
My husband. The man's a tank, I tell you!
My writing friends. They keep on plugging, no matter what.
Great post!
My mother in law was the bravest woman I knew.
I'm gonna be thinking of this post all day and looking around for courage. I have a feeling I'll find it everywhere I least expect it.
Thanks, Jon.
There are so many stories in the Bible of folks who displayed courage, I always think of King David and how he bravely fought Goliath. Love your story of the blind runner, that would be very difficult and you would definitely learn to trust others to be able to do this. It seems like I've grown to lean on God and His word to lead me through difficult situations nearly every day. I'm glad that He is there, and don't have a problem admitting to folks now how much I need Him. Thankful.Good post here Jon!!
Carol,
Thanks for the opportunity to share here today. You definitely STRETCHED me in helping me to think about courage.
Great reminder, Jon. Love your three main points too.
Great post, Jon.
You convicted me. Lately I've been fretting and doubting God...that's not obeying!
I need to have courage to obey and rejoice even though I can't see ahead of me.
Thanks!
Carol's recent blog on courage imprinted a new Bible text on my heart: "They will have no fear of bad news, their hearts are steadfast; trusting in the Lord." Ps. 112:7. And I love Joshua 1:9 that you mentioned, one of the verses seemingly written for my young adult son, who spent 15 months in Afghanistan as an Army combat engineer: "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Amen Jon! I loved this post - Courage is what it takes to keep going when things don't look so good. Faith holds courage up and hope is the glue that makes the whole thing work. I praise God that He is with me, because He promised never to leave or forget about me - ever!
Carol - Thank you for hosting Jon - Peace and Blessings!
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