Conducting a word search on BlueLetterBible.org, I learned the word combination “be strong and courageous” occurs 13 times in the NASB95 translation of the Bible.
I was reflecting on courage this morning, and how difficult it is to possess and display.
I found many different attributions to the oft-quoted idea that “courage is not the absence of fear, but acting in spite it.” I like the corollary, “we would not have to have courage if we did not have fear.” The word “courage” appears 32 times in the NASB95. “Fear” appears 313 times. The word combination “do not fear” occurs 78 times. Our Creator knows what we struggle with.
I know the ways that, by the grace of God, I have been able to display courage. I also confess I know the many ways I still struggle.
The idea that maybe I possess “a little courage” reminded me of Jesus’ letters to the seven churches in Asia that He asked His disciple John to write in the book of Revelation, remembering there was something in them about possessing a “little” of an attribute. I found the concept in Revelation 3:8:
I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
I can hear the Savior say similarly to me, “I know your deeds….you have a little courage.” How I pray I have kept His word and not denied His name. How I pray He will give me the power to demonstrate a little, and even more, courage.
Courage in this era means losing friend and family relationships. It means accusation and rumor and misunderstanding, and being maligned without opportunity for defense. It means investigation of credentials, jobs lost, careers and reputations ruined. My husband and I, in this era, have met and worked with some of the most courageous people I’ve ever met.
God has gifted us with fellowship so that we can strengthen and encourage one another. Hebrews 12 comments on “the cloud of witnesses surrounding us,” that did not deny their faith but endured, despite consequence, and are now in the presence of God. Their witness inspires us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The witness of those displaying courage around us today inspire us to respond to the admonition to “strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble.”
Isaiah 35:3-4 says, “Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.’”
We do this for each other, but, more importantly, God does it for us:
Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.Isaiah 41:10
The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
With this reassurance and with the fellowship of the courageous among us, may we continue to display a little, and even more, courage in the face of evil.
Thanks, that was inspiring. I just wrote my first Substack explaining my new word "coincidism", which is when people blame medical harm on coincidence. I will be sure to tuck a little of my faith in the Lord into every new release. Prayers for courage for all of us. Hang in there everyone!
https://open.substack.com/pub/coincidism/p/ive-created-a-concept-i-call-coincidism?r=13euvm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
"With this reassurance and with the fellowship of the courageous among us, may we continue to display a little, and even more, courage in the face of evil." - 100%. Thank you for an excellent post and for the courage that you and your husband have, especially in the last 4 years during the greatest organized crime ( evil ) in history. Peace.