When You Need to Take Courage
A government shut-down.
A family killed in a rock-slide.
Children addicted to porn.
Christians and churches being attacked.
Teen pleads guilty to murdering a 10 year old girl.
These are just a handful of the articles that flash across my screen this morning. Some I read. Some I can't.
And the scary world isn't just "out THERE". It's right here. I see the scary sin or dangers right here. In my town. In my church. In my home. In my own heart. Because Satan attacks where we attempt to move toward Christ.
Some days I need to take courage. I want to feel brave....not so...vulnerable. I want to see the Lord transform my thinking from a wasteland to a graceland.
I want to truly trust that my life isn't ultimately in the hands of sinners or chance but in the hands of a loving God.
Today I landed on Psalm 121.
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."
This Psalm encouraged me today.
This very One who helps me...who doesn't sleep...who keeps me...is the same one I've been studying in the book of John.
Now HE is brave.
And like my husband always tells my boy, "Being brave isn't about not being scared. It's about being scared but going forward anyway."
So Jesus knew the realities ahead the night he sweat drops of blood in the garden of Gethsemane. He was in agony about the future evil He would endure.
But He did it anyway.
He didn't want to experience torture and the bearing of the world's sins and a torturous death. In fact...He asked for the cup to be taken from Him. But for the joy set before Him...He did it anyway.
He allowed Himself to be taken away. "Put your Sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
After being struck in the face, "If I said something wrong, testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?"
He was bold. He was brave. He spoke the truth when it was dangerous.
And this is the Lord who keeps us.
When we feel scared in this world, we can be encouraged that this is who lives in us. When we feel depleted of courage, we truly have all that we need. The One who goes forward in the face of evil and danger.
Take courage today, friends. Not in your own level of bravery, but in His. Take it from Him. All that you need is right there living in you. Who else and what else can we possibly run to in the face of the evil, sadness or dangers we may encounter in this world?
Image: The Taking of Christ, Caravaggio
Linking up this week with:
Amen! I needed these words today... thanks for such a speaking post.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing how it impacted you!
Beautiful words, beautiful images, and a beautiful message of bravery. So glad I found you today. Blessings and may all of our wastelands become grace lands!
Thank you for your words and visit...
Such a wonderful message! My husband and I spoke to our youth group this past Sunday about courage and it was a similar message...being brave to do what we need to do even when we are afraid because we know He is with us.
Blessings. Visiting from Tracy's.
What a great message to send to young people. They (young people) will need courage as we head into the future I think. Thanks for visiting!
I love reading Psalm 121 and being encouraged by the verses in there. These are hard times, full of danger and evil that would naturally cause all to run in fear. But, because the Lord walks with us and surrounds us, we can keep moving forward, knowing He is all powerful! Followed you over at T.G,I.F. Thanks for sharing!
Yes...so thankful for Him with us....in us. Thanks for visiting from the Linkup!
What is the greatest wonder still to me is that Jesus is the fulfillment of all our Pappa's promises. I am experiencing a bad Fm/CFS relapse but are so comforted by His promises that nothing, nothing, nothing can ever separate me from the love of our Pappa as I abide in Jesus!
Blessings XX
Mia
I'm sorry to hear of your relapse. May he continue to comfort you in this. Prayers for you this morning!
amen! in Him, nit in the world's power, not in our own strength or understanding, in Him, always and only in Him
Yes! Thanks for visiting!
One of my favorite Psalms, thank you for linking up with me, I felt very comforted by this post. Have a blessed weekend. Tara.
Thank you for telling me that. Glad it comforted. I always hope God comforts others through how He comforts me. Blessings...
Very encouraging post! I am glad to have linked up with you at Barbie's. Hope you had a blessed weekend! Love, Rachael @ Inking the Heart
Thank you for visiting, Rachael!
Praising Him for this word.
"And like my husband always tells my boy, “Being brave isn’t about not being scared. It’s about being scared but going forward anyway.” What good words for your son from your husband.
I do feel scared living in this world that we call our earthly home, but these words of yours are good and the Word of Truth is all the more important. Jesus is our ONLY Answer. Hallelujah!
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Thank you for stopping by and sharing -- Jesus is the ONLY answer. If I could just remember that in every little moment! Sometimes I forget. Blessings...
Even in the midst of light, we are surrounded by darkness. Psalm 121 is a place I find myself when I need His perspective. Thank you for linking up with The Weekend Brew!
You're so right. If we could always see before us an image of us in darkness but with his light around us...how we would so readily seek him even more. Thanks for the Weekend Brew!
Time to stand fast and having done all just stand !!
Standing today! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for timely words...Psalm 121 is one of my favorites...Stopping by via Laura B's blog..
Thanks for stopping by...I appreciated your post too!
My help comes from the LORD! Thank you for lifting my eyes back to our Brave Saviour...never really thought about Him that way before. Stopping by from SDG Party 🙂
I hadn't really thought of Him in that way either...love it when I see something new in scripture! Thanks for stopping by...
You ladies at UNITE are amazing! So many of you have hit on exactly what I was reading about this morning. This mornings reading was about "courage" & David! Thanks for sharing this Psalms and the boldness we have because of His cross! ~ Jen