So let me ask, what is courage?
The dictionary defines it as: Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. I define it this way: Courage is the ability to move forward in the face of things that are fearful but all the while you are trusting in God to have His will be done.
The Word of God tells us that we need to have courage! Look at Joshua chapter 1. There are four times in this chapter where Joshua is told to be strong and courageous. In verse 9 of Joshua 1 we read this: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
We need to align ourselves with God. Follow what he tells us to do. When things do not go our way, we need to not be afraid or dismayed. Why? Because of this: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. This is where we find our courage. This is where we find the strength to face those things which are fearful for us. The fact is that when we align our lives with God then He is with us wherever we go. It comes down to the fact that we need to be aligned with God and when we are, we know He is with us, and we know we can make it through!
So let me ask you: do have courage? Do you have the ability to move forward in the face of things that are fear but you are trusting in God to have His will be done? Do you see the connection between courage and having a life aligned with God? How would you define courage?
Your turn.
Don’t think your definition can be improved upon much Jim. I just might add the courage is the willingness to act in spite of all that is ahead-known or unknown. not much different than what you have already said. Good thought today my friend.
Thanks Bill!
One more thought (sorry): can courage also be the willingness to hold back from doing something?
Thanks for this addition – I like this a lot.
That’s really good stuff.
I find it interesting that it’s a command: Be courageous. We shouldn’t consider it optional. Enjoyed your post today, Jim!
Thanks Dustin.
From Soren Kierkegaar about Courage,
“To see yourself is to die, to die to all illusions and all hypocrisy.
It takes great courage to dare look at yourself – something
which can take place only in the mirror of the Word. You must
want only the truth, neither vainly wish to be flattered nor selftormentingly
want to be made a pure devil.”
“Resignation by itself does not require faith. It has only to comply
with the eternal. It renounces, but does not gain. Faith, however,
does not renounce anything. On the contrary, in faith I receive everything.
Herein lies the crucial difference. It takes a purely human
courage to renounce the world of temporality in order to win eternity;
but it takes a humble and paradoxical courage to take hold of
what is temporal and to do so for the sake of the eternal. That
courage is the courage of faith. Through faith Abraham did not
renounce his claim on Isaac. No, through his faith he received
Isaac.”
horvathliviu – Thanks for the quotes – I especially like the 2nd one. Thanks for reading and commenting.