Originally published Saturday, 28 February 2015.
Sometimes what really takes courage is to look a situation and to realize we simply are not enough. We don’t have the experience, the expertise, the energy – and yet it all looms ahead. Courage sighs deep.
But, it doesn’t despair of the inadequacy. It doesn’t feast its eyes on the void.
Courage is fully, humbly aware of what’s lacking - yet filled up and over with the belief that our Lord God Almighty will do just what He says He will do. So, quietly, courage pulls out 5 smooth stones, believing in the One True God who topples giants.
After all, courage is just humility, armor-clad in strong belief.
But, humility? Wouldn't we rather focus on ways to be more assertive? To be stronger, to defend better, to stand up taller? I would anyway.
But if you can’t be honest about your human-ness, you’ll expend all your energy just trying harder or covering it up or making excuses for it.
Humility is the only key that unlocks a courageous heart. With humility, you can acknowledge the inadequacies, and you can let them go. Better still, you can finally and freely focus instead on the One who gives, and supplies, and fortifies.
So, today, in this moment, He’s not actually expecting you to have it all together and look the part. He's not asking you to expertly win battles for Him or cut down giants with ease. I have to tell myself this so often:
His desire is devotion, not perfection.
And, our responsibility? It's to scramble off the pedestal of expectations we’ve been trying to balance on, and to find some solid ground before His throne.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Devoted, worshiping in the presence of the uncreated One.
Devoted, praising the One who says He alone is the author and finisher of our faith.
Devoted.
There, you’ll find the courage you need to face your greatest fear – that, after all this striving, you are not perfect. And, there, you’ll be given greater assurance that the One who is will fight for you.
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts:13
So, be with Jesus. Let His presence wipe away the taunts of imperfections and the inadequacies. Let the full awareness of who His is leave you breathless, humbled, and devoted.
He's the God who transforms shepherds into kings, and He fights for you. Take courage.
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