Courage in troubled times

Courage defined is someone who takes a firm stand against all odds; valiant, brave and bold.

We live in a time of confusion, fear, and violence. We have to take a firm, courageous stand against the enemy. He is on a rampage in our nation and the world. He know his time is short. We see God’s Word unfolding even more as the days go on.

American culture is no longer centered on truth. It, instead, revolves around opinion, fake news, shaming, and division.

People don’t want the truth anymore. They cling to their own desires. They are tired of waiting on God. They have their own agendas.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 says - For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine (rejection of the true Gospel); but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears (things they want to hear); And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

We may see impossibility in getting these hard hearted, stiff necked people to see the truth but God told me it’s not my job to get them to see it. It’s His. I wondered on these things sitting at mom’s table a couple of years back. How are we going to get them to understand and see the truth? I hear God say clear as anything that it’s not your job, it’s mine.

God calls us to do things which require strength and courage. At some point in our walk with the Lord we realize we cannot accomplish things on our own.

He calls us to step out into faith obediently, and trust that He is going to be there to put a firm path under our feet. We start, but He is the one who accomplishes the mighty, powerful work in our lives.

One of the toughest things for us to comprehend is when we do what the Lord has asked us to do but you don’t see anything happening at that moment. You begin to wonder if you’ve done something wrong as you wait.

In the back of our minds we know God’s will may mean or be something different and at that moment the devil inserts himself into our lives to makes us doubt, be fearful or possibly fall into depression over certain situations.

1 Peter 5:8 says - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

The devil has had many years of practice to exploit our fears and weaknesses, but fear and weakness is not our inheritance.

Fear is a spirit, but one that God has not given us. We can be courageous and live above fear. This doesn’t mean that we won’t ever feel afraid. We will. This means that when we start to feel fear rise up, we can combat it with the truth of what God has given us. Courage.

He is our strong tower. He is our protection. He fights for us. He created all things, so having him on our side is a sure win in every situation we face.

Matthew 16:18 says - Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Isaiah 54:17 says - No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;

Romans 8:31 says - What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

The Lord is our strength and our courage. With Him we will never fail.

Throughout the Bible we see countless stages of courage. Jesus had courage, David had courage, Esther had courage, Daniel had courage, the three Hebrew boys had courage, Joshua, Deborah the Prophetess, Abraham, Caleb, Josiah, John the Baptist and we have it as well.

The Word says this and it applies to His children. His people. His chosen. His ministers. His followers.

Joshua 1:9 - Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee wherever you go.

Deuteronomy 31:6-7 - Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that does go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

2 Chronicles 32:7-8 - Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles.

Psalm 118:6 - The Lord is on my side; I will not fear; what can man do unto me?

Let’s look at a few other Bible characters in whom God strengthened and gave courage. We see in those times that courage leads to sure victory in our Lord.

Moses fled Egypt out of fear for what he had done and no doubt faced insecurity when God commanded him to return.

Exodus 3:11-12 - And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

The Lord gave Moses the courage to stand boldly before Pharaoh. That courage led to victory in freedom.

David saw a distraught king and dismayed Israelite army before Goliath but was motivated in his disdain for Goliath’s defiance against God.

1 Samuel 17:32, 37 - And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.

David had courage because of the countless times God had protected him. The Lord gave David courage and he won a great battle that day against a boastful enemy. That courage led to victory in battle.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego defied a direct order from Nebuchadnezzar that anyone hearing music play must bow down and worship this 90 foot golden idol or be cast into a fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:16 - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

They had great courage in the face of sure death. That courage also walked among them when they were thrown into a fire seven times hotter than normal. They came out of the heat wave with no sign or smell of being burned. That courage led to victory in the face of death.

Jesus the Son of God was human as we are but He came into this dark world as a light of salvation. He displayed courage in His testings, lessons, healings and sermons but as we see in the Garden of Gethsemane He felt heavy anguish of the upcoming events.

Luke 22:42-46 - Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus courageously stared fear, pain and death in the face. He could have saved Himself but courageously bore the cross and man’s transgressions for us. His courage led to victory for us to be saved.

Will you be courageous?