“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

I saw this quote a few years ago and it gave me a whole new perspective.

It’s so encouraging isn’t it?

Sometimes we get a picture in our minds….or at least I do….of courage roaring like a lion and running forward with a sword and armor.

That can be true.

But, sometimes it’s just not giving in.  Sometimes, when you’re battling depression or anxiety courage is simply getting out of bed and getting dressed.  Sometimes, that takes all the courage you have and that’s ok.

I struggled with that for a long time and thankfully was delivered.

Sometimes, it’s not bowing down to your circumstance.  The flesh vs spirit battle is real.  Wow.  Learned that lesson.  Ephesians 6, Galatians 5, and Romans 7 explains that.

But, that led me to think of what it looks like in my Christian walk.

Waiting on God requires courage especially if you’re hard headed and a control freak like me.

You always hear the passage in Isaiah 40:31 :
“BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN, AND NOT BE WEARY; AND THEY SHALL WALK, AND NOT FAINT.”

I never really took that literally or thought about the real meaning.  Waiting on the LORD should be refreshing, right?  What do you look like when you wait?  I know a lot of my waiting season had a lot of sighs and tears and “I’M WAITING, GOD!!!!”

You know what it actually means?  You wait.  God isn’t stupid.  He can’t be manipulated.  And when you get tired of waiting you wait some more.

Surrender.  Surrender is when you soar.

A few weeks ago you know what that looked like for me?

I had been praying about something that I just couldn’t shake.  I couldn’t figure out if it was my flesh or if the scenario was SUPPOSED to be in my mind.

I didn’t want to take it into my own hands, so I had to wait for God to tell me to move.  But, there was so much silence.  FOREVER it seemed.

I was lying on the floor of my room on my back assuming the giving up position.

My dad walked into my room and I mumbly said, “I will not faint or grow weary.  I’m soaring…can’t you tell?!”
My dad: “Yeah…You look like an eagle…”

I looked the opposite of a soaring eagle.  I looked like roadkill.

Courage is not always torches blazing.  Sometimes, it’s just not giving into your flesh and involves reading Isaiah 40-43 over and over and over again knowing He is faithful and you will eventually be soaring in the sky.

The next day I did get an answer and had peace over the situation.

Courage is standing up for the truth even when you want to give in.

Sometimes, it’s speaking up with a shaky voice.

It’s following God’s truth when the whole world is against you.

I am a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17) who is not conformed to this world anymore (Romans 8; 12:2).

I have been redeemed and given a new name.  Because of His strength that is not my own (2 Corinthians 12:8-10) I am a conquerer in all things because I have the Spirit of the One who conquered death and tells me not to be afraid.  He will never leave nor forsake me.  Not in a million years.  He chose me before the foundations of the earth and will love me through eternity.  That is a love worth fighting for.

Fear is a liar.

“You’re still a daughter… You’re still a son no matter what

Don’t know what you’ve been taught…
Don’t know what you’ve been told…
All I know is my God will never let go of you.
And I don’t know what you’ve seen…
Don’t know what you’ve been through…
All I know is my God will never let go of you.”
Ryan Stevenson – No Matter What

“He left the 99 to rescue me”: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31

“When he told you you’re not good enough
When he told you you’re not right
When he told you you’re not strong enough to put up a good fight
When he told you you’re not worthy
When he told you you’re not loved
When he told you you’re not beautiful that you’ll never be enough
Fear he is a liar… He will take your breath …Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar …He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness

Cast your fear in the fire Cause fear he is a liar”
Zach Williams – Fear is a Liar