Courage Is Confident Reliance on Love

Courage is not the absence of fear.  It is what moves us on when fear is present. 

If there were no fear, courage would be unnecessary. 

Since it is Love that defeats fear…Courage must be confident reliance on Love. 

I've known more fear in the past five years than in any other season of my life.  I found it odd when it first came.  I really don’t have more to fear, but it seems that this is the current plague of the enemy of my soul.  I can begin to think about something from a negative perspective because of either real or imagined circumstances and the spiral goes down rather quickly.  Maybe it’s part of the aging process.  Maybe it’s just the reality setting in that we really aren't in control, and that what appear to be random acts of mercy and malice pop up in the lives of acquaintances, friends, and people we love. 

We figure out there really isn't a formula for life.  Doing all the “right” things does not necessarily equal a carefree life.  Perfect dietary restrictions and exercise regimes do not exclude all health problems, and doing all the “right” things in our relationships does not mean we will never hurt or be hurt.  First of all, we won’t get it right every time, so there will always be a struggle.  But struggle isn't all bad.

Fear isn't all bad either.  Fear is something that drives men to the feet of God.  This is proved by the cliché that there are no atheists in a foxhole.  Fear wakes us up to our need for God and we certainly need the awakening.  When you are younger, it’s easier to rely on yourself.  At the beginning, you think you are taking care of it all but it’s likely, in your independence, that you are relying on your folks more than you realize.  So, you get a little older and you buckle down and “get ‘er done” and here you rely on the strength of your youth and vitality to make it through.  You can be quite successful at it.

As you get a little older though, or as life hands you a few extra lessons than you wanted all at one time, the lack of control can come to the surface of your reality.  The struggle becomes insistent for attention.  Your ability to stop the madness becomes felt. Fear sets in.  This is a blessing.

The Book says that “Perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18)  I would venture to say that if you've never known fear, you've never known your true need for God and don't know much of who He is.  Fear drives us to God.  Chaos abounds, hope is deferred, and pain becomes evident. You just become plain old scared.  This is okay, and even good.  There is a remedy, a balm for what ails you.   It truly is the love of God. 

God told several folks in The Book not to be afraid - to have courage.  There was generally a real reason to be afraid. However, God was with them and told them that they didn't need to be afraid.  The Book tells us that God will never leave or never forsake us, (Hebrews 13:5b) and it says that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39).  God is all powerful and sovereign.  Therefore the command to have courage is one based on knowing who God is.  Courage is confident reliance on Love.  Trusting the God who is Love for all that brings fear. 

I’m not a tough girl.  I used to pretend.  I’m pretty much a wimp.  However, I have learned a little smidge about who God is.  He’s worth trusting.  He’s got it.  Really.  So I am able to “have courage” because courage merely means that I trust God, who is Love, to cast out all fear.  I walk on. 

I really don’t know how people face the day without God.  It takes courage to face life.  In the great and successful seasons, we might be fooled into thinking we've got it under control.  But it only takes a glance at the news or the weather or our neighbors or friends so see that we hold our control by a slender string.  Of course a great many people are deceived to think that their string will hold them… or they keep working to improve the quality of the thread. 

I really believe courage is confident reliance on Love, with that Love being God.  I face another today because I know the Love of God which never leaves His children under any circumstance.   I face today because I know the One who holds it.  I face today because I know that all my trippings and failures will be swallowed up in grace as I follow the Lover of my soul.

I need reminders.  So I write sometimes.  I get to know this Love that I’m trusting.  I get to know His character in The Book and in living life through the chaos.  Yes, fear can still plague me.  Just because I know truth doesn't mean I always remember.  I really think that’s what community is all about.  Reminders.  Remember what you know already.  I can’t teach you much new.  You have The Book.  God speaks to you…Remember.  He really is Love and He really is true…Remember.

Remember.