Are you Courageous?
Courage: The ability to do something that frightens you. I loved that when I looked up the definition of Courage, it did not say the absence of fear. Courage is feeling the fear and stepping out in Faith.
Being courageous can look different for each of us. For some it might be riding a roller coaster or jumping out of a plane. For others it is having to go to an event where you do not know many people and trying to make small talk. Whatever it is for you, we do not go alone. It takes Faith to believe that when we feel fear God is there with us. It is by His strength we can have courage.
When I was a kid, I was terribly shy, but I did not want to be. I had a desire to speak in front of groups of people, but I was terrified. In the 9th grade I took a speech class to try to get past my fear. When it came time to compete in competition my category was pantomime! I got myself in front of people but still made sure I did not have to speak. Sometimes we are brave one small step at a time.
Almost 16 years ago now, it took every ounce of courage in me to leave an abusive marriage. I did not plan ahead, one morning I just finally got the strength and left with some clothes for me and my kids and one box. The box was baby books and photographs; things you might want if your house was on fire. It was only by Faith that I had the courage to start my life over. God has been so good to restore what the enemy tried to steal.
Do you feel courageous? What is God calling you to do? Sometimes we think that if God is leading us that we will only feel peace and that being nervous must mean it is not from Him. If only that were the case. God is going to call us to get outside of our comfort zone. That is where we find the good stuff. If everything we did was comfortable, we would not need God. He will call you to do things that stretch you and that you will have to have faith that He is going to show up and get you through it.
Courage, Commitment, and Faith. These are the words that God gave me for The Right Combination. You cannot have one without the other. All three will be needed to step out and find the purposeful life that God has for you.