Courage: It’s Within You

Hello Friends,

It is officially Fall!! (Actually, it’s been Fall for over a week now!) Have you done anything exciting or fun to celebrate this new season? Have you jumped in a pile of leaves? Have you roasted marshmallows? Have you cooked any hotdogs over a bonfire with your parents? Have you enjoyed the cooler temperatures as you went on outdoor adventures and excursions? I hope you have found some time to enjoy the beginning of this new season before it gets too cold to do anything outside.

Unfortunately, because of a busy schedule, I haven’t been able to fully enjoy the start of this new season. But hopefully, in the near future, I will be able to spend more time outside–probably working–but enjoying the fresh air, the sound of leaves crunching under my feet, the smell of a fire rising out of the burn-barrel in the background, and the warmth of a thermos of hot chocolate in my hands. Fall is just beginning…so I have time to enjoy it!

Today, I want us to think about something that has been on my heart lately; and that is courage. It seems as if when a new season falls into place, we have to be courageous in what we do, where we go, and what we say otherwise we will miss the magic and splendor of God’s creation. But sometimes, being courageous, doing something, talking to a new friend, can be scary. We would rather stay inside than jump in the pile of leaves outside our window. We all have courage, but what does that mean. Well, let me explain. I’m going to need you to use your imagination!

Can anyone here tell me what this is? That’s right, it is a basketball. OK, now, who can tell me what this is? That right, this is a bowling ball. Tell me, what would happen if I dropped this bowling ball right now? Would it bounce back up, or would it hit the floor with a thud? That’s right, it would hit the floor and pretty much stay there wouldn’t it? Bowling balls aren’t very good at bouncing back up.

Now, what would happen if I dropped this basketball? Would it bounce back up, or would it hit the floor and stay down? Exactly, it will bounce right back up. Maybe not quite as high, but it still bounces back when it hits the floor, sort of like a bouncy ball does when you drop it on the floor.

Now, why will the basketball bounce back up and the bowling ball won’t? (When I was your age, I didn’t know the answer either.) Well those are all great answers; however, am sure that there are really smart people in the church today that can explain to us why this happens. Let me see if I can explain it to you: the density and composition of the basketball is key to its ability to bounce…blah blah blah. (You know exactly what I am saying, right?!) The simple fact is that the basketball is made of the right stuff. The basketball has what it takes to bounce back. The bowling ball, doesn’t: it doesn’t have the right stuff to bounce back up when it hits the floor.

God made us like that. When things aren’t going too well for us we can either be the basketball or the bowling ball. We can choose to either hit the floor and stay there, or we can bounce back to where we were before. We can do that because we are made of the right stuff: we have been fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. God gave us the strength to overcome that which brings us down. He gave us courage when we are afraid. He gave us the ability to bounce back.

The Bible speaks of this courage several times; and it also reminds us that even when we don’t feel courageous–have the strength to bounce back–we still have courage because God is with us. For example:

Deuteronomy 31:6 states, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Joshua 1:9 affirms, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

David wrote in Psalm 46:1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

And in Psalm 118:6, “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Lastly, the Prophet Isaiah noted in 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

You see, you have courage because God lives within you. God is our source of courage and strength. So remember this the next time you are feeling down. The next time you are sad, angry, or lonely. Remember that you can bounce back. You can do it and God can help because He has given you the courage and strength to keep moving forward. I think it’s time to bounce back up for God!

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the right stuff to bounce back. And we promise that the next time we are feeling down, that we will remember your gift to us and use it to get ourselves back up to where we should be. Thank you God for filling us with the right stuff, with your courage. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!