Courage #1—Peaceful Courage

When the unbelief of anxiety abounds in our hearts, it kills the courage to think and act righteously in the world. Because this fearful way of anticipating the future is so easy to achieve, God’s spokesmen remind us more than 100 times to be courageous rather than anxious. Rather than just exhort us, they also remind us of some of the promises God has made to strengthen our resolve and to urge us on to love and good deeds. Considering some of them together will help us fine tune our faith for those times when the future seems foreboding.

Never be anxious; but in everything, by prayer and by supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which is more valuable than anything you can imagine, shall keep your hearts and your minds from abandoning Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7

Compliance with Winston Churchill’s nine word commencement address, “Never give up! Never give up! Never give up!” is possible by the grace of God, as he answers prayer in the face of every adversity. Since Jesus’ return date is unknowable, it is necessary that we demonstrate forbearance. But the impingement of the physical world, with all its seemingly powerful forces arrayed against God’s people, makes this seem more and more difficult. The “worries and riches and pleasures of life” are weeds choking the power of God’s promises, preventing them from properly nourishing our souls. We are drawn away from the promise of eternal life into the anxiety-producing pressures of our temporal existence. We experience the fear of misplaced confidence. The courage to hold fast to Christ, and the goodness of the grace we will experience when he arrives, can be ours. It arises from the peace we experience now as we contemplate the prospect of answered prayer. When we humble ourselves in prayer, recognizing God’s superiority to any adversarial powers we might be facing, and when we present the specifics of our requests with gratitude which anticipates grace, God answers. He calms our fears and overpowers any ideas we might have had of forsaking Jesus.

Almighty God, the world speaks fear to me every day. Search my heart and know my anxious thoughts. Show me the truth about your wisdom and power, so I will hold fast the word of life until Jesus returns.