What does courage look like in my life? What does it look like for you?
What do I need courage for? What is God asking me to do that’s scary and out of my comfort zone?
I know God is challenging both you and me – it’s his nature. As our Good Father, he wants us to grow and develop a strong, courageous character. So he provides opportunities for us to be stretched.
Where does he want to stretch you? If you can’t think of any place he is trying to help you grow, I recommend spending several hours with him as you read and meditate and listen to him speak to you through his Word. You will come away from that time challenged by something – I guarantee it.
God presented Joshua with a huge challenge by giving him leadership of the Israelite nation after Moses was ‘gathered to his people’. The Israelites were finally ready to enter the Promised Land and they were facing the daunting task of conquering the land.
There seemed to be a lot of valid reasons for Joshua to be fearful and worried – except God was in control. "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 where ever you go." Joshua 1:9.
Nothing is impossible for God – there was no reason to be afraid.
Have you ever had a situation that was big and challenging like this where you knew you didn’t need to be afraid because it was all in God’s hands?
I have experienced this several times. Three years ago God told me to write a book about my journey of grief and faith after my son, David Glasser, who was a Phoenix Police Officer was killed in the line of duty on May 18, 2016. A book! I write two blogs – this one and a different one about my son and my experiences since his death. But I have never written a book. It’s a big project, lots of challenges. I was not worried – God told me to do it and I knew, if I did my part, he would make the rest happen.
And He did.
I published it on Amazon last year – "Then I Looked Up: Losing a Child, Finding His Legacy of Love". Check it out and let me know what you think!
While I was writing the book, I experienced another situation where I needed courage and faith. A little over 2 years ago my husband passed out at a pickle ball tournament and was rushed to the hospital where they called a ‘code’ on him in the emergency room. Every available medical staff member came running. They saved his life that day and he had emergency by-pass surgery two days later. Surgery was successful but he continues to have different issues with his heart – there have been many more doctor’s visits and hospital stays.
I’ll never forget my trip to the emergency room that day after my husband called me to tell me where he was. God kept speaking into my mind that He was in control, that He loved my husband, and that he everything was going to work out according to His plan. So I was not worried, I was not anxious even when I walked into that emergency room and saw my husband hooked up to a bunch of machines.
God was in charge – there was no reason to be afraid. My being worried or scared of what was happening would not have made the situation better- it would have made it worse. After the doctor told me what happened and how serious the situation was, I still didn’t feel afraid. God has already decided when our last days are here on earth. If this had been my husband’s last day, nothing the doctors could have done for him would have changed that. God is in total control.
It was a truly amazing experience to watch – once again- the reality of God’s infinite power play out right before my eyes. Nothing was going to happen that God did not want to happen.
So I have recent knowledge of how Joshua must have felt when God told him that he had to lead the way in conquering the Promised Land and God would give him victory. Joshua was going to have to wake up every day and courageously show up to do his part, but God was going to be with him, making it all happen.
Where is God challenging you? If he’s asking you to do something, he will be right there beside you helping you accomplish it.
Be strong and courageous. Experience the power of God in your life today.
Judy