“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Anything that you have been called to do will require you to be courageous – whether it is waking up in the morning or living out a calling that exceeds your experience. In today’s world, even smiling at a stranger requires courage. To stand with the Lord and rebuke darkness takes courage in a dark world. Everything requires courage.
Meanwhile, our nervous systems are overstimulated and easily triggered. The weirdness of the world, even in just a single moment in a public setting, could trigger us. But we cannot back down… not from our calling, not from our kindness, not from showing up.
The older I get, the more I realize courage is like a muscle. It develops as we trust God, believe that He is with us, and that He indeed fights our battles for us. It grows by pressing ahead through obstacles and seeing victories by the power of God.
I say it regularly, and I will say it again today — to you and me both: Do not be bullied out of your calling. Do not allow others to scare you off of the path God has placed you on. Ask God for courage. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself – to speak truth – when you need to. And keep pressing forward.
Sarah Guldalian 