Courage gives us the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without being overcome by fear. Fear is detrimental to our emotional and spiritual growth, because it will either paralyze us, or cause us to rush forward and make a choice that will deter us from stepping forward in the right direction on our journey of Faith.
In the hidden place of our hearts, we all have things we are waiting and hoping for, expecting the Lord in his time to work out for us. Sometimes we hold on with perseverance and determination to stay on our chosen course of action: trusting, waiting and holding on to God’s promises! At other times, when difficulty, uncertainty, or hardship show up, quite the opposite happens, and we lose courage as we struggle to believe and wait on God to move. Suddenly our fears overwhelm us, and we lose the determination to stay on our chosen course of action.
Nonetheless, God is still on our side – even when we struggle! It is God’s design to use waiting to work negative traits out of our lives as He works positive fruit into our hearts. Any ability to “hope for” the Lord’s active participation in our circumstances requires that He give us the courage to persist in stepping forward by faith. As our attention focuses on God’s Word and power to fulfill our deep desires and needs, we will be able to say with courage of heart: “Be brave and of good courage, and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.”
Lord give us courage as we expect you, the living Lord, to help us through today and fulfill the hopes and dreams You have put in our hearts for tomorrow.
“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord” (Psalm27:14).
