Christians face a critical balance between allowing the Holy Spirit the opportunity to direct our paths and attacking life’s problems with courage. Two plaques in my office represent this tension: “Jim, I Have Everything Under Control. – Jesus” and “Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure… than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat” (Theodore Roosevelt).
God doesn’t want His people to leap without consideration, nor does He want us to just sit and wait for something to change, hoping life will figure itself out. Afterall, a ship must be moving to be directed by the rudder. Similarly, we need to be courageous in our efforts while constantly sensing the influence of the Holy Spirit. I’m reminded of an illustration I used in my book Heaven on Earth:
All-Pro tight end Brent Jones is one of the most courageous football players to have ever played the game. It was during the course of many outdoor adventures that Brent learned the heart and soul of the man he most admired. Granddad was a very accomplished athlete who regularly took Brent and his brother Craig to the outdoors while teaching them lessons about life.
During a family fishing outing with his granddad and brother, their canoe overturned in the swift current of Hat Creek located in northeast California. The icy cold water temporarily paralyzed the fishermen as they tried to hang onto their gear and the side of the boat.
The fast current pushed the men toward shore where they stumbled onto dry land. Brent states, “Granddad did not come out until everyone was safely on shore and the gear had been secured. After he reclaimed all our equipment, Granddad guided us to an area where we caught several really nice trout. He wouldn’t let us go back to camp empty-handed, wet, and licking our bruises. We continued to conquer our fears and accomplish the goal of catching some fish for dinner.”
Brent had seen this feisty spirit before as he watched his grandfather participate in sports and attack his daily work. His fearless nature and courageous heart provided Brent with a model that would help propel his life.
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquest of it – the attitude or ability to deal with anything dangerous, difficult, or painful instead of running from it. “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). Courage is also a boldness to do what is right as directed by the Holy Spirit. King David prayed, “Teach me Your way, Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies” (Psalm 27:11).
The Apostle Paul often risked imprisonment and death, yet he bravely preached the gospel and instructed believers to “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). The Bible is full of courageous people: Joshua faced the trials of leadership; Abraham left his homeland, following God to an unknown land; significantly outnumbered, Gideon attacked the Midianites and Amalekites; risking death, Daniel prayed faithfully; Nehemiah persistently rebuilt the wall; and David challenged Goliath. On and off the field, our Heavenly Father calls us to be courageous and spirit-controlled in our battles.
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 17: 10- 32
Personal Application: What giants are you up against? Do you have a posture of victory or defeat? Courageously face troubling circumstances and people who, by attitude or action, defy the ranks of righteousness to challenge your faith and strength. But also allow the Holy Spirit to be the rudder that sets your course.
Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5