The pastor closed his message to our congregation with the word ‘courage.’ Well, that does sound good and encouraging, but what does it actually mean for us? I can easily imagine or identify courage when thinking of someone who performs a dangerous job or overcomes a specific fear. But what does courage look like for us in the context of faith? We have often heard that courage in faith does not mean a lack of fear, so how does it fit within our spiritual lives? The grace of courage is not just about our individual strength, but it is also moving forward with trust and confidence in the power, wisdom, and mercy of God.
‘Take courage, it is I.’ (Matthew 14:27) It is I. That’s the key to this grace. It is the Lord who accompanies us and guides our courage to encounter, listen, and do the Work in His name. This is the grace – His walking with us. The grace of courage brings us to be with Christ and of Christ in all we do. We could easily change or add: ‘Be faithful, it is I; Grant forgiveness, it is I. Choose kindness; it is I,’ etc. The next line in the verse from Matthew is ‘do not be afraid.’ As He did for the disciples on the rocking boat, Jesus leads us to the grace of courage by strengthening our spirit with His presence, so despite our fears, we encounter fierce winds with the confidence and assurance of ‘It is I.’
The grace of courage equips us with the courage to listen with heartfelt ears, respond with Christ-like love, and do the mission of the Lord even when it’s uncomfortable. Most importantly, the grace of courage works within us to stand confidently for things ‘of God’ and be led to where we don’t know. The Lord understands we will still have times of fear, resistance, and hesitation, but we proceed with this grace with the faith that He is with us. This grace of courage is not just momentary to get us through one fearful or unpleasant situation. It is permanent; it is always, and we trust it to help us welcome what the Lord desires to reveal to us.
Next week, the grace of humility.
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