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Courage (13 January)

What do we think of when we think about courage?  Here are some thoughts which went through my mind.  Six months after my husband had open heart surgery, (six years ago) he climbed Ben Nevis with his sons – to my mind that took courage; for a fundraising event about 10years ago, I did a tandem skydive jump, some would say that took courage. In talking with Jeniya today I was reminded that 20 years ago she climbed on a plane in Zimbabwe to come to the UK leaving behind her husband and four children, that took great courage.  All of these things we can easily associate with courage, they are big events, but what about us now, on a day to day basis, do we need courage, do we find courage, what does that look like?

The verse that immediately springs to mind for me on the subject of courage is when Moses passes the baton of leadership onto Joshua he says ‘Be strong and courageous’ (Deut.31:7).  Moses was passing on a word from the Lord and he was not only speaking courage over Joshua, but imbuing Joshua with courage from God – he was en-couraging him.

I recall a year ago at the annual Fresh Streams Conference that one of the speakers felt God had given him a word for us all for 2020, which was for us to be more courageous and kinder.  As the year unfolded again and again I looked back at that word and thought how very true it turned out to be.  We certainly needed courage throughout 2020 and we needed to learn to be kinder both to ourselves and to one another!  I think in 2021 it still rings true.

So coming back to my question, what does courage look like, day to day for us?  What does it look like to take on board God’s words to Joshua for ourselves: ‘Be strong and courageous’?  I think it will look like different things for each of us on our circumstances.

I was talking today with a mum who needs to write a sermon for Sunday this week, at the same time as helping to home school her three children.  Courage to believe God was still with her and guiding her, to have enough courage within her to encourage her youngest child struggling again with lockdown, courage to put down on paper (or the computer) the words that God was giving her for her sermon.

Perhaps you need courage to pick up the phone yet again to make that pastoral phone call, or courage to take the next funeral and be the one whom others look to for strength, when you don’t feel you have it.  You may need courage to put on your mask and go to the supermarket, while knowing that you live in an area where one in 30 people have COVID, which is the case in some parts of our region.  Perhaps you need courage to be alone in your study for yet another day, or courage to encourage your wife or husband as they struggle to look for work yet again.  May be you need courage to open that Zoom deacons meeting and face the difficult questions be asked of you and your church.

To each of these situations and so many more, the Lord says to you ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’ Deut31:6

So today and every day, know that you are the supermen and superwomen who are wearing your God given cloak of Godly courage.  Then because of this be encouraged and choose to be kinder to yourself.

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