Courage to Move

Thursday, January 26, 2012 Posted by Debbie Legg

Last week I talked about the challenge of leaving our comfort zones.

What I didn’t talk about is the courage it takes to make that move, be it a large leap or a series of tiny baby steps. Although it’s totally worth it, making that move can be scary, difficult, time-consuming, costly…

It takes courage to follow a God, whom we cannot see and can have difficulty hearing, into the new territories He has for us to conquer.

Sometimes that is more literal than metaphorical. In Joshua 1, God told Israel’s new leader that He was giving Israel the Promised Land, that success was guaranteed. Yet He commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous three times in four verses.

God told Gideon in Judges 7 that if he was afraid to take his 300 weaponless men into battle then he should steal into the enemy camp and eavesdrop for some courage-building insight. (One of my FAVE OT stories!)

The Bible is bursting with more of these examples. It says “Do not fear” 365 times. It sounds to me like God really means it.

Why do we need to be so encouraged to be courageous? My guess is because we’re human. Things don’t always work out the way we plan or prefer. Sometimes we are certain we are following only to screw up. We’ve been burned one too many times and it’s just easier to lay low and not make waves. Fill in your own reason here:____________________.

What we seem to forget, though, is that our God is LOVE. He has GOOD THINGS planned for us. He KNOWS all of our doubts and fears. He SEES how our hearts ache for more out of life and how our disappointments and sorrows discourage us. Then there’s the kicker. He’s personally experienced how hard it is to be human. After all, He is the Son of Man.

Here's another kicker. If we dig deep into our hearts, where The Spirit lives, and ASK Him for courage (or faith, or knowledge, or wisdom) He’ll provide it. Expect it.

Be Strong and Courageous! Do Not Fear!

Ready? Set? LEAP!