Courage
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
cour·age ˈkərij/ noun
the ability to do something that frightens one.
- strength in the face of pain or grief.
Strength has never been a difficult thing for me. I was raised by a single parent. My mother taught me how to be strong. The women in my family are fierce. Strength came easy, but courage was something different. I knew how to handle difficult situations. I knew how to manage my emotions. I knew how to "get over it," but courage was something different. Courage meant acknowledging my fear. It meant unpacking all the fear. It meant opening the closet and letting the skeletons fall out. It meant doing the hard work. Courage meant standing even though my knees were shaking. Courage meant to knock on the door. Courage meant to try "it" again. Courage meant knowing that no matter what it looked like God is with me. Courage meant my faith had to be bigger than my fears. I encourage you today to be strong and of good courage. God is with you.
Obstacles
I love obstacle courses. In fact, I attempted the ninja course at Slingshot Entertainment this past summer. I use the word attempt very lightly. The very first challenge required me to overcome my fear. There were a few other challenges where I overestimated my physical ability and hurt myself. I realized quickly that this obstacle course was designed to present both physical and mental challenges. Obstacles in our lives cause us to re-evaluate our capabilities. Some obstacles present mental challenges, while others present financial or physical challenges. Identify the obstacles in your life. Are they physical? Are they financial? Are they mental? Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Create a time sensitive plan with a deadline. Execute the plan.
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”― Confucius