Courage

When you hear the word, 'courage', what comes to mind? For me it is not necessarily all the well known acts of heroism but also in the small moments, perhaps even the unseen, that I think of.

When I think of courage I think of someone who takes a stand for what is right even if they are the only one standing. I think it is one who makes the choice to turn the other cheek when insults hurl. (Matt. 5:39) It is to have uncompromising faith. Unwavering to the end. It is choosing love over hatred. Peace rather than disharmony. Courage is never giving up when all odds are against you. And it is holding onto hope and taking that step of faith in a choppy sea of darkness.

I want to live like that! I want to live courageous through my faith that strengthens even when weak. I want to have the strength as Cassie Bernall who answered, "Yes.", to the question of her belief in God just moments before she was taken from this earth on April 20, 1999 in the Columbine High School Massacre. And I want to forgive with the enormous amount of Grace as the widows of Jim Elliot and four missionary friends who continued to try to make peaceful contact and eventually won the hearts of the tribe who had murdered their husbands. And I want to trust as Anne Graham Lotz, "If God can bring blessing from the broken body of Jesus and glory from something that's as obscene as the cross, He can bring blessing from my problems and my pain and my unanswered prayer. I just have to trust Him."

So on this damp Autumn day I choose the strength in which I stand in to take that leap of faith onto the bridge that leads into a future unknown. To trust in my God Whom always has my best interest at hand. Who has taken the ugly pains of yesterday and made beautiful situations of purpose. I choose to forgive the heartache of misunderstandings. And to once again live my life to the fullest and have the courage to face anything that may come my way.

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. ~ Philippians 4:13