“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9, NASB
For the longest time, I thought that having courage meant heaping up a pile of determination against the fortress of fear, like an ancient Roman siege ramp. And truly facing my fears with courage meant making that heap even higher than the fear. Only then would I have the potential to face the fear with courage…but where did I think that determination came from? I guess I would ask God for help building it up within me—but I still thought of it as mine.
This summer, I had the opportunity to learn a whole new paradigm for thinking about fear and so by extension, courage. It has transformed my understanding and is making a huge difference in how successful I am at facing fear and moving forward into places the Lord invites me to go with Him. And it is as simple as a change in perspective based on recognizing what is real…
My fears are not real—they are built on lies. They exist only in my mind and are based on false ideas planted there by the enemy. Therefore, building siege ramps against walls that don’t exist is a waste of time! The truth is that I have nothing to fear but God alone. If it is the Lord who commands me to go, who am I to instead believe the one who sows doubt in God’s goodness and His greatness? To me, the most important word in the verse above is “I.” If God is the one who commands, it seems ridiculous that I should entertain doubts about whether He will also protect and provide!
I used to think that courage was something that I had to stir up within me. Our gracious Lord has been showing me that, like His love and grace, courage is a gift that He offers to me based on what is true. Will you join me, and take courage too?
Oh Lord, You are The Truth, and all truth comes from You and is Yours. Establish me in the truth so that I will have the courage to follow You wherever You lead. For it is You Lord Jesus, the perfect lover of my soul, who is leading me. Amen.
Copyright Jere Vandewalle.
Jere is the Director of Operations for Christian Educators.
5 Responses
WOW. I love this and it’s what I needed this morning. He does it. I just flipped open the Bible this morning to Jesus saying in Matt. 16… “Why do you have so little faith!” HE does it.. with our fish and loaves. He’s got this.
Lord take away our ramparts of fear. Settle us in your peace today.
In Jesus’ precious name and under His blood, amen.
Amen, Bobbie!
I love this!!!
I love this!!! Thanks Jere for reminding me that fear is a lie!
Jere,
thank you for reminding me that if I walk with God, His way is perfect. God has allowed the door on my time in the classroom to be closed.
While I don’t understand everything and
now I wait for my new role, your message tells me that
I need not fear what his next assignment is for me.
And I do not need to listen to the pile of lies the enemy is trying to get me to swallow. I know I made a difference , and I will do so again.
God Bless You.