Courage Is Possible Through God’s Grace
He Is With Us
He Will Never Leave Us
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; He won’t leave you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 The Message
“I have told you these things,
so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace.
In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering,
but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy];
I have overcome the world.”
[My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” John 16:33 AMP
“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. I praise God for what He has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?”
Psalm 56:3-4
Courage Quotes
(Some of my favorite courage quotes from my Quote Page.)
“Courage, the original definition of courage, when it first came into the English language — it’s from the Latin word cor, meaning heart — and the original definition was to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart.” – Brené Brown
“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.” - Atticus Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
“Courage means not allowing your limitations to eclipse God’s possibilities.” ~ Christine Caine
“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
Do you sometimes feel like you are battling giants? Like you’re constantly retreating? Like you’re just too weary to fight anymore?
There can be so many giants in our lives, can’t there? I can’t begin to name them all, but two biggies for me this past week were discouragement and fear.
It’s hard not to be discouraged when the continuing battle of chronic illness gets me down. My body attracts bugs so easily, so I often catch the viruses flying around. They usually succeed to wreak havoc in my bronchial tubes. My husband came down with a nasty one the week before, and I begged God to please keep me from getting sick again. He had different plans. But even as I knew it was starting in my body, I felt God whispering, “My child, haven’t you asked me to deepen your trust in Me? Let go and surrender your way into My way of making it happen.” Sometimes God doesn’t give us our way, but He helps us to have peace with the plan He chooses.
Then there’s this year’s presidential election. Discouragement and fear looms in many hearts. Many have been belittled and trampled upon. Deep hurts remain in women, minorities, and the vulnerable like the handicapped, etc. People who need to be loved, respected, and accepted just as they are. People who need grace, support, and healing. People who are just as precious in God’s sight as the next person.
Our hearts may droop in discouragement and freeze with fear. But God is still in control of the giants in our way. We are never alone. We have God on our side, and He will never, ever fail or abandon us! So let’s keep moving forward, one step at a time. Remembering that God cares about each and every one of His unique creations.
What giants are looming over you and intimidating you? Taunting you with lies that victory is impossible? Blocking the way forward in the path God has chosen for you?
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book. My enemies will retreat when I call to You for help. This I know: God is on my side!” Psalm 56:8-9
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” 1 Samuel 17:45
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Lord, You are Almighty and You are still in control, no matter what happens in our hearts, our lives, our world. But oh, Lord, sometimes we get so discouraged, so worried, so afraid. We cry to You for help, because anything is possible with You. Help us to truly believe You have already gained the victory over the giants of sin and death and Satan, and no giant in our lives is too big for You. You know the giants in each of our hearts, some hidden from human eye, but never from You. Thank You for loving us so much and counting it a delight to care for us. Please remove all uncharitable thoughts from our hearts. Help us to treat others with love and kindness as You have treated us. Help us to trust in Your love and power and grant healing in each of hearts.
“Giants Fall” by Francisca Battistelli
“Don’t you be afraid Of giants in your way With God you know that anything’s possible So step into the fight He’s right there by your side The stones inside your hand might be small But watch the giants fall
We could really live like this Can’t you imagine it So bold, so brave With childlike faith Miracles could happen Mountains would start moving So whatever you may face…”
First of all, I have decided to take a break from blogging. It may be a week, or it may be a month. I’m going to take it day by day. I am falling in the trap again “to perform” instead of just “to be.” It’s my passion to encourage others, but often I forget to be nurturing to myself. I need some soul rest to center my mind again on who God is and who I am in Him. I need to rest in being “enough” just as I am. I need to believe His love and grace does not rest on whether or not I write a blog post every week.
I feel guilty to take a break, and I’m afraid I’ll miss some blog posts from those who I’m so grateful to for encouragement, but my heart tells me it’s important to take time to prioritize my life and my heart. Time to really listen to what God has to say to me. Time for rest, rejuvenation, and restoration.
My friends, my absence does not mean you will be absent from my heart. You will be in my heart and prayers. I hope and pray you will have a soul-reviving Easter!
“Then He gives the command and it all melts; He breathes on winter—suddenly it’s spring!” Psalm 147:18 The Message
Spring is here! Hope and new life spring forth after a long and cold winter. I love how The Message says, “He breathes on winter – suddenly it’s spring!” Nothing breathes, moves, or lives without His breath. When we see His control in nature, it helps us to hang onto the hope that He indeed is in control of our lives, too, no matter what comes our way.
A Herald of HopeA Song of Hope for You!
“More Than You Think I Am” Danny Gokey
“I catch all your tears
Burn your name on My heart
Be still and trust My plan
I’m more than you think I am.”
“We often believe things about ourselves that do not line up with God’s truth. We think our worth is based on performance or possessions, that we have to be perfect to be loved, or that we’re too ordinary to be used by God. Deeper tears down these lies and teaches women to replace them with four truths from Psalm 139. God knows me, he protects me, he made me, he values me. Using compelling narrative and Scripture, Deeper helps women transform their lives by trusting in the reality of God’s love. Instead of striving for perfection and worth, readers can rest in the truth that they are his.” (Amazon Review)
“As women we tend to think if we could only get our act together, our life would be perfect. But you’re not supposed to be perfect. You’re supposed to be human. And humans are messy, flawed, glorious, and deeply loved.
It’s time to lay down those unrealistic expectations that exhaust you.
It’s time to embrace who you are – even the messy parts.
It’s time to start living fully instead of just trying not to fail.
❀Mercy Ministries – A free-of-charge program whose mission is “to provide opportunities for young women to experience God’s unconditional love, forgiveness, and life-transforming power.”
➺ Nature Photographers Network – Spectacular photos focusing on the art and technique of nature, wildlife, and landscape photography, lots of galleries to peruse and enjoy
➺ Art in Nature Photography – Amazing photos here – “Floris van Breugel is a west coast based landscape and wildlife photographer, with an eye for abstract and creative interpretations of the beautiful world we live in.”
❤︎ “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” ~ Mark Twain
❤︎ “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
❤︎ “Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person’s throat……Forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their mind and behavior, a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment, but without true change, no real relationship can be established………Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation………Forgiveness does not excuse anything………You may have to declare your forgiveness a hundred times the first day and the second day, but the third day will be less and each day after, until one day you will realize that you have forgiven completely. And then one day you will pray for his wholeness……” ~ Wm. Paul Young, The Shack
Freed to Fly 