“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; He won’t leave you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
How do you define courage? The dictionary offers two definitions: “The ability to do something that frightens oneself” and “strength in the face of pain and grief.” Everyone admires someone who displays this type of courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles and fear. Think about it, movies typically center their hero or heroine’s storyline around this theme.
Jesus certainly displayed this type of courage while here on earth: boldly facing critics and ultimately the cross. Knowing Jesus would lose His life for the sake of you and me, the Apostle Matthew depicts the final hours leading up to Jesus being arrested in Matthew 26:36-44.
“My soul is sorrowful, even to death,” Jesus said. And yet, He continued along the path God had laid out for Him. Talk about courage in the face of fear. And all because of His love for you and me. Thankfully, Jesus’ story didn’t end on the cross. After paying the ultimate price for all OUR sins, Jesus rose again so that we might have a relationship with God. Jesus’ act of courage redeemed mankind.
More often than not, living courageously doesn’t require a life or death decision – but it might feel like it in the moment. We’ve all had a season in life where we’ve had a choice: move in courage or shrink back in fear. What the movies often don’t depict in their happily ever after ending is what comes next. Living courageously is rarely a ‘one and done’ moment, but a daily decision in how we approach each day.
In what areas of your life is God asking you to walk boldly and courageously for Him? Is it at work or at home? Maybe you’re facing a health or financial crisis and just getting out of bed each day takes tremendous courage. Ask Jesus for the strength and wisdom to know HOW to live courageously not only today, but every day. You never know who might be watching.
