Real Life Stories – Courage

Fearful or Found?

By a 18-year-old girl

Losing yourself is a terrifying thing.

Especially when you think your parents were right behind you. Especially when you are in a large empty aisle by yourself. And especially when you are all of ten years old.

It had been a fairly peaceful shopping trip, following behind my parents through the massive furniture warehouse of Ikea, running around a corner or two a bit faster than they did, or dawdling behind to look at something neat, but still staying within safe proximity. Until I waited too long. I was inspecting something (what it was I have now completely forgotten) knowing the rest of the family was turning to the next aisle. I finished, and dashed around the corner to join them, but — nothing. The aisle was empty. A quick glance assured me the one I was just in was empty as well. As was the next one forward. And the next. And the next.

Eventually I reached the check-out area, still fighting the fear rising inside me. What a sight! A frantic red-head dashing about, my blue eyes darting from face to face, trying to find one that was familiar. Close to tears, I returned back to the aisle where all my troubles had started. But, what to my wondering eyes should appear, than the cart and my family all walking quite near! Apparently, instead of continuing forward in the store, they had went back — opposite of the direction of my rushed search — to pick up something they had forgotten. And so we were reunited, my terror coming to a close after a whole eternity of two minutes.

When I was on my own, fear made each new place a dark maze. But when I was with my parents, courage made each new corner an adventure. I was with them, so I was safe.

And it’s much the same in our walk with God. After all, consider one of the most well-known courage verses in the Bible, Joshua 1:9 (KJV). 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 withersoever thou goest. Joshua had immense responsibility placed upon his shoulders. Leading a people wandering around the wilderness into battle? His job. Strategizing against some of the greatest kings in the land? On his list. Having to take down impenetrable fortresses? Check. Governing a people who over and over again proved themselves to be stubborn and pig-headed? Double check. Joshua had plenty of cause to stress out, shut down, and let fear overwhelm him. But Moses commands him not to.

Why? Because the LORD the God is with thee withersoever thou goest. Joshua could have courage because God went with him. In fact, often when the Bible tell us to be courageous, it does so because the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee. ( 1 Cor 28:20, see also Deut 31:6; 31:23) And because He is with us, He will strengthen us, He will help us, and He will uphold us with the right hand of His righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10)

So when we dwell in God, trusting always in Him, we have no need to fear what this next corner might bring. We may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb 13:6) Regardless of how many empty aisles you go down, regardless of how many unfamiliar faces surround you, and regardless of how alone you may feel, He is there. He will never leave you, never forsake you, and never forget where you are.

So He doesn’t want us to become trapped, debilitated by fear. He’s called us to good works, to proclaim His Word, and to glorify His name. He has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (1 Tim 1:7 KJV) He has made you free indeed, including freed from the power of fear.

God has called us found. God has called us to courage.

To Stand Up

By a 13-year-old girl

I know, for me, a couple of things that come to my head when I think of courage is knights saving the princess from the evil dragon, or even firefighters going into the burning house to save a girl maybe police officers risking their own lives to save millions. But I know that I don’t have enough “courage” to be anyone of those things. But courage isn’t all about the hero stuff that you might read about books or hear on the news….it is more than that. It is standing up for what you know is right even though it might be tough or maybe it just doesn’t feel right. One time when I was at my youth group I was hanging out with some of my friends and I glanced out of the window and noticed that another girl that I was acquainted with was sitting by herself outside and she didn’t really look like she was happy. At that point one of my friends in the group looked out the window to and we made eye contact and he commented something about her. Nothing mean but enough to make me think about what my friends might think if I went out there to talk to her. I stood there for a few seconds trying to decide if I should go out there and not care about what they thought of me. For me it took a lot of courage to push aside the fact that I might be judged for acting out of kindness. I decided that I would take the chance and I went out and talked to her…after I went out and talked I felt really glad that I did…and one thing is none of my friends said anything (good or bad) about the fact that I went out to talk to her. . So if you ever are struggling to stand up for someone, be someone’s friend, or just standing up for God, God gave us courage to do all those things. And He also gave us the power and ability to use the courage He gives us.

Rock Climbing

By a 15-year-old girl

A couple summers ago I went to a Christian camp that I have been to many times. At the beginning of the week, our leader told us that later in the week we would be doing the camp’s giant rock climbing wall. I immediately had nerves because the last time I did the wall I couldn’t make it up and it was very difficult for me. In that moment I prayed to God that he would help me make it up that wall. When the end of the week came, we headed to the tower (where the rock wall was) and I immediately had memories from the past. I was one of the last people to volunteer to go up. Before I knew it I was up at the top of the tower and felt relieved. I couldn’t believe I made it up the wall. One of the most memorable parts was when one of the leaders told me that I was one of the fastest people to get up to the top in our group. This made me smile and I knew that it was only through God that I was able to accomplish such a thing. The same thing also happened with a trust fall exercise we did. We were five feet in the air and we had to trust fall and hope our group below caught us. I was scared about doing this, but once I got onto the ledge I took a deep breath and fell. I had a rush of adrenaline and could feel God’s power and providence.

 

*Note: We do not post the full magazine here on this blog, to read the full magazine monthly for free, email us at thinkauthors@gmail.com

Advertisement

An Everyday Missionary – Courage

Boldness in Sharing Our Faith

How many of you would raise your hand if I asked whether you were good at boldly and confidently sharing the Gospel? Probably not many of you… rather, most of you would be shaking your heads emphatically. And I would have been with you a few months ago, squirming until the subject changed. God has worked on my heart and fears, however, and brought to a point that while I still need a lot of work I think I could do it confidently. I think. There are so many logical reasons why sharing the gospel is so important. And we went into that in July 2016 ’s Th!nk magazine. The truth is that the fear of witnessing to others, while a very real fear, is selfish! And we logically know that and all the other reasons why we should be witnessing, but sometimes it is hard to convince ourselves of it so that we truly know what we know. Make sense? One of the problems there is that all those logical reasons aren’t the reasons we should be doing things for- though they are huge and great themselves. Our ultimate reason should be out of obedience to God. And When we obey God in something He won’t leave us alone in it! He will supply us and equip us with what we need to do the job. And that means He will give us courage if we need it. Do we trust in God’s will and His courage enough to  do the thing asked of us? To obey? I was looking through the references to boldness in Scripture, and one of the main situations it was used in was to describe the early Christian’s sharing of the Gospel!

• So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. Acts 14:3 (NIV)
• So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. Acts 9:28 (NIV)
• He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! Acts 28:31 (NIV)
• Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:29-31 (NIV)

I am sure that they must have been terrified… they were facing persecution and execution! And yet they trusted in God and He provided them with the courage that they needed.

“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.  And so you will bear testimony to me.  But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.  For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. Luke 21:12-15 (NIV)

The message that we bear is not one that can be taken lightly! (2 Timothy 2:15)  It is not one that can be defeated by the fear of the enemy, our message is one full of unmatchable power! It is okay if we are not sufficient because God is, and His truth is. All we have to do is obey and rely on Him, ‘the author and perfecter of our faith’.

I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 (NIV)

2 Timothy 1:7 assures us of our power over fear (see Dissect it!), and then immediately proceeds to tell us this in verse eight:

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

Will you join me in this fight over fear? If you are willing, God will help you! He is faithful to complete the good work he has begun in us even if we are  not. In Him, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8).

 

 

*Note: We do not post the full Th!nk magazine on this blog each month. To read it in complete form monthly, for free, email us at thinkauthors@gmail.com!

Why Witness?

Reasons to Witness Here are 8 reasons I think you should witness. If you are considering witnessing here are some points I hope you will think about. Witness because you can- God has given us the physical ability to speak and witness to others so we should do it. Where I live, we are very blessed to not be persecuted for our beliefs and Christianity so if you have the freedom to witness and talk about God, you should do it! Witness because God is with you- God is always watching over us and has given us the Holy Spirit. He is always with us and there to help us and comfort us. God used Paul and Moses who weren’t good speakers at all. Our own weaknesses shouldn’t be used as an excuse! God  can use them even more than our strengths! Witness because God has given you special abilities- God gives us each unique abilities, experiences, and passions that we can use to reach different people. One person may be able to talk or reach out to someone differently than another and impact them more. You may have THE story someone needs to hear. Witness because it’s what God calls us to do- God calls us to go out into all nations and baptize people. I don’t think it could be more obvious. He tells us to witness to others and we should do it because we follow Him and love Him. Witness because God can do something greater- God can do so much more when we take the stand and witness to others. Who knows, one person may become two or three people. God can do greater things when we trust Him and are bold. Witness because it can change someone’s life- Witnessing can impact someone and change the way they live. Witness because we know the true God and overflow to share it with others- We have joy because we know the true God and have confidence in Him. We want everyone to feel that same joy! Witness because everything will be okay- A lot of times we miss out on blessings because we’re afraid or it makes us uncomfortable. We need to stop listening to the lies of Satan, who has a way of making good things look bad. After reading this I suggest that you talk to God and ask Him what His will is for you and if He’s calling you to witness to someone. Is there a certain person in your life who you feel like you could witness to? A friend? A neighbor? A classmate? A co-worker?   *if you want to read the whole magazine monthly, subscribe for free by emailing thinkauthors@gmail.com