Quiet Courage


Courage feels like a big word. By definition, courage is mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. (merriam-webster.com)

Sometimes, courage is loud and obvious like when David fought Goliath. Right there in the action, everyone around saw how he defeated the giant. And those not there to see it definitely heard about it.

But courage isn't always showy. Sometimes it's quiet. You might see it but not be able to identify it at the time. But it's courage nonetheless.

I think of Mary who probably heard the whispering of others as she walked by and Joseph who took Mary as his wife, even though she was already pregnant. Although the angel confirmed what the Lord wanted them to do, I imagine they still faced the town’s gossip and rumors. And they had to have had courage to face what others said without starting to doubt themselves and maybe even what they heard the angel say.

But what about us? What does it look like to be courageous?

I don’t know what you’re going through, but I know sometimes it’s hard to feel courage within ourselves. Disappointments and setbacks make us feel like courage is something for other people and that our lack of courage is too great.

But don’t be fooled. Even when we can’t see our own courage, others can see it in us. {Tweet this}

What does courage look like in our everyday lives?

* Courage is getting back up when we feel like we keep getting knocked down.

* Courage is trying again when nothing is working out or we don't know what to expect.

* Sometimes courage is just getting up again in the morning and facing the day. Maybe it will be just as hard as yesterday was. Maybe it won't. But we won't know if we don't keep trying.

* Courage is persevering when we don’t like our circumstances. It's looking at the hard day ahead and putting one foot in front of the other to keep moving forward. It's saying, I don't want to do this, but I have to, and I know I'm not alone—God is walking with me.

* Courage is knowing what we can't do alone, we can do in God's strength.

* Courage is crawling out of bed to face the day when we'd rather stay buried under the covers.

* Courage is making the decisions we don't want to make and taking that next step we don't want to take.

* Courage is sitting with someone in their difficult, heart-breaking circumstances so they won't have to sit alone.

* Courage is continuing to dream when our dreams seem unrealistic or someone says they can't happen. Courage is finding a way around the doubt.

* Courage is walking through the known and the unknown with eyes focused on Jesus. {Tweet this}

Courage doesn’t look one specific way. It's different for every individual and every situation.

And sometimes we don’t even know what our own courage looks like until we can see it in hindsight. Then we look back and wonder how we made it through a particular season of life. {Tweet this}

There’s no shortage of verses about courage in the Bible, but here are a few to think about.

Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.
Job 11:18

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Psalms 27:14

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!
Psalms 31:24

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

And because we so often need God's strength to have courage...

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

In Christ,
Laura

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com]

15 comments:

  1. Beautiful post. It's been a while since I've visited your blog. Your words always touch my heart. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful and needed words for me today. Courage is walking through the unknown with my eyes fixed on the One who knows it all. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love all these definitions of courage. In our loud culture, sometimes we are pushed toward a definition for courage that is really bravado or self-promotion. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is to keep our mouth shut and pray.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very well said Michele! I couldn't agree more!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This spoke to me as I'm going through my own courage building exercises lately! Linked up with you at Moments of Hope! Glad I found you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. These definitions of courage are spot on. Perfect! When I think of quiet courage, I always think of my mom. She was the embodiment of quiet courage.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think of you often, Laura. Hope you are doing "better." xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love this, Laura! What a perfect definition of courage! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes and yes. What wise words that courage so often quiet and almost ordinary. Thank Goodness his courage IN us enables us to take the steps he sets before us. Loved this post, Laura. Perfect timing for me.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think quiet courage that comes through reliance on God is the most powerful. Wise words, Laura!

    Secure in hope, Joan

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful words of wisdom here! It's so good to be here soaking in them in. We kind of put courage in a box, don't we? Thinking it needs to look one way or another. Yet, as you pointed out, courage is so many things - some are ones we may easily overlook. Thanks for joining me, friend, at #MomentsofHope!
    Blessings,
    Lori

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love this post, Laura! Just a heads up, I'm featuring it tomorrow for Grace and Truth on Candidly Christian.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love this, Laura! What an encouraging word! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.