A Life of Courage

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 NKJV

What is courage? Oxford dictionary defines courage as the ability to do something that frightens one. Another source defines courage as the choice or willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation.

The Bible defines courage as the steadfast reliance on God's strength and promises to obey His will even in the face of fear, danger, or uncertainty. Whatever way we decide to define courage, we know that courage requires us to leave our comfort zone and requires true faith. It requires true faith regardless of the outcome. Despite the outcome, even if. It requires us to speak the truth out loud, even if all odds are against us. It requires us to act. To move. To get up. To go. It requires us to run towards the fire rather than away from it.

Courage is a sacrificial action that puts others before ourselves. It requires us to think quickly when our back feels like it is up against a wall. It makes us uncomfortable because courage comes with a cost. Even if.

However, courage gives us strength. It is a fire-like strength in our soul that burns brightly despite being under the fire. It is the strength from within that we thought we never knew we had. After all, this strength was never ours in the first place. Even if we think it is. It is an otherworldly strength that fears God over man. Not the other way around. It requires us to be prepared for battle, putting on the full armor of God, not just once, but all of the time. Every. Single. Day. Even if. Even if it feels silly, we must be girded in truth. Lip service is not an option because the words coming from them hold power, and they are used as a weapon. We think. We speak. We do. Regardless, we are led by the One who gives us the authority to think, speak, and do. Courage requires humility and forgiveness. It also acknowledges our need for grace. Grace for others as well as grace for ourselves. Mercy for others as well as mercy for ourselves. His grace and His mercy, too.

On the other hand, fear in the worldly sense causes us to compromise, to shrink back, and to fear man. It keeps us isolated and silent. It keeps us complacent. Most of all, it keeps us dead in our sins. God made each one of us with purpose in mind. Therefore, if we fear God, pray, and ask God for courage, we will then step into our God-given purpose. Why is it then that we step into our God-given purpose? The reason is that we finally get the courage to do so. Life is too short to waste the purpose He has given us. This world needs us. Most of all, it needs Him. If our identity is in Him, then what do we have to lose? We might lose a lot of earthly things, but we gain everything in the heavenly realm, which is an abundant life in Him. The Christian life was never meant to be an easy road to travel. If anything, it can feel very lonely. However, we are never fully alone because in the end, we realize that He is always with us.