Courage

I used to think courageous people were those of the type that would jump into icy water and save someone from drowning and of course those people are courageous. However, that doesn't mean courage isn't accessible to "non water" people. For those who face challenges of the simple stuff of life (all of us), then courage helps us deal with whatever life throws at us, it aids in keeping an even keel through things and equips us with fortitude to work through failure. Realising that sickness, discouragement and loss comes in all shapes and sizes I am coming to understand that our lives get smaller or larger in direct proportion to our courage.

Courage is not the absence of fear; it is doing what is right in spite of fear. Don't think that if you have fear, courage has somehow evaded you. Look fear in the face and focus on what is right, and then DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO - AFRAID IF NECESSARY. That is what courage is. John Wayne said, "Courage is being scared to death—and saddling up anyway."

General George Patton said, "If we take the generally accepted definition of bravery as a quality which knows not fear, I have never seen a brave man. All men are frightened. The more intelligent they are, the more they are frightened. The courageous man is the man who forces himself, in spite of his fear, to carry on."

People of faith have an advantage because 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." How comforting and liberating is that?

My prayer for every one of us is that we live our lives with courage. 

Ken Williamson
(AoG National Leadership Team)