It takes strength and courage to live in today’s world. In it we face many challenges.
But with Christ, I learned I can become better instead of bitter, turn my anger into forgiveness, find peace in the midst of chaos, find hope in the midst of despair. I hope you enjoy reading “Courage”.
This is my command- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9 NLT)
It takes courage to live life in a broken & hostile world but God promises to go with us wherever we go. I witness many people today that are living with unresolved pain which may be suppressed but it is never fully silenced. Sometimes it’s acted out in anger and violence and sometimes people attempt to bury it in addictions, depression, busyness, over achievement, workaholicism, etc.
Although we may be effective in burying the pain of our past we are also burying the beauty that is hidden deep within and the purpose for which we are created. I’m finding the three are intricately interwoven into the complexity of our life’s tapestry. It takes courage to revisit the pain of our past! As God commanded Joshua so He commands us to be strong and courageous as we encounter our own battles; battles that require a power well beyond what we are able to muster on our own!
God promises to go with us wherever we go. The weapons that are available to us may not be made of iron or steel but they are no less powerful in battling against the fiery arrows of the devil. (2 Cor 10: 3 & 4; Eph 6: 10 – 18). Living in a broken world means we will encounter many battles and as God gave Joshua the key to living well; He gives the same to us. Meditate on the Scripture continually day and night. Obey God’s commandments never turning from them either to the right or the left-only then can we prosper and succeed in all we do. (Joshua 1:7-9).
Christ laid down His life to walk, guide, protect and save us on our journey. I’m writing this story to provide hope that with Christ we can resolve the pain of our past. It was on this leg of my journey that I truly experienced Christ’s love, acceptance, comfort, grace, and mercy. It was then that I was able to see, for the first time, the innocence of my childhood and not the shame.
What is life changing is that when Christ first showed me the REAL me I wanted to hide; I was so broken. Yet Christ stayed with me; He didn’t reject or walk away from me as I felt others in my life had. Christ stayed by my side. He held me and comforted me in my tears. He let me know that He will always love and accept me just as I am; wherever I am on my journey.
I saw myself for the first time through the loving eyes of Christ and it was through His love that I learned to love & accept the REAL ME.
As we invite Christ on Our journey, He patiently promises to go with us wherever we go! Without realizing it, our journey becomes His journey and He leads us into healing, wholeness, salvation and reconciliation. I want to encourage you to take that journey with Christ; it is this adventure of Discovering the Wonder of You that we are meant to live.
Sparrow’s Song Ps. 108: 1-6