“… For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear, what man can do to me.” (Hebrews 13:5b-6, NKJV)
Some days … well … some days are just harder to handle than other days. We know that every new day is truly a blessing from our God. But that doesn’t change the fact this world brings with its existence challenges of every type, shape, and size.
We watch the news … we hear of events that are tragic … that can shock and trouble us to our very core. Truthfully, there seem to be more days that would be better occupied without seeing or reading of all the negatives.
A child of God does not have the luxury of ‘burying their head in the sand’ and somehow pretending these challenges are not going to affect them or their loved ones.
But they do! And the question becomes one of “how?” Living in this world requires God’s people to possess courage and boldness … tempered with compassion and a Christ-like disposition!
And it is the gaining and retaining of these characteristics that become our greatest challenges to daily living … to be as the Lord encouraged Joshua to be “… strong and courageous.” (Joshua 1:9)
And the answer to where we can find this strength and courage when it is needed is found in the faith and confidence expressed by the beloved Paul when he penned by inspiration, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
The very thought of persecution … suffering for the cause of Christ … or perhaps being called upon to die for the Cause of Christ … are not pleasant thoughts to reflect on.
But our culture and the world, in general, are moving in that direction … of making life difficult for those who call themselves Christians!
Will we have the courage of a Stephen … of any one of the apostles … of so many of the early Christians? Paul most clearly expresses where his source of strength, boldness, and courage came from … not himself … but the Lord!
There was a Scottish theologian by the name of John Braille (1886-1960). If you have never been exposed to any of his writings … you are truly missing out on some very thought-provoking reading.
I am sharing from one of the many prayers that he wrote
I would ask you to read it over several times … slowly … thoughtfully and you will be able to lift up your heart and life and very words to Him who is always listening and always aware of each and every one of us.
“By your grace, O God, I will go nowhere today where you cannot come, nor seek anyone’s presence that would rob me of yours. By your grace I will let no thought enter my heart that might hinder my closeness with you, nor let any word come from my mouth that is not meant for your ear. So shall my courage be firm and my heart be at peace.”
So … we ask again, “Will it be there when you need it?” You make the call.
“The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1)
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
“Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality.” C.S. Lewis
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