We live in a world that flat out deflates courage. The temptation to fear is great. It's a wonder we ever leave our front door.
Brave means when we display courage. But this definition of courage bothered me. It says, "facing difficulties without fear." I'm willing to argue that many of the bravest moments I have ever witnessed happened while fear was still present.
I saw it this winter when my eleven year-old introverted son stepped onto a stage by himself and sang his scared heart out. I felt it the first time I wrote about my story of sexual abuse and nervously pushed "publish." Or when my daughter, five at the time, was preparing for and recovering from surgery to have her tonsils and adenoids removed.
Brave is doing the hard thing, even when we are afraid.
And perhaps the bravest thing we can do is look in the mirror. Not a quick once over to make sure our hair isn't sticking out funny, but to see and acknowledge who we are. To pull back the curtain and expose the rawest parts of us.
Brave is being open to receiving God's way of smoothing our raw, rough edges.
Brave is staying put when it would be easier to retreat.
Brave is not letting fear win.
"Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
Brave is faith.
Linking today with Lisa-Jo…
7 comments:
Fantastic post, Christy! I love the line about being brave is doing the hard thing even when we are afraid. I think John Wayne said something similar: "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyways."
So glad I popped by from FMF! Be blessed!
Hey Christy! Visiting from Five Minute Friday. My favorite line? "Brave is not letting fear win." Admitedly, I've let fear into first place many times. But bravery is trusting in Christ and forgoing fear in that.
I'm reading a wonderful book about fear right now, called Running Scared, written by Ed Welch. HIGHLY recommend it!
I love how God uses our strengths, our mistakes, and even our fears. Love your post!
Excellent!
Wow... Amen! Brilliant post... so, so true.
God bless,
Lois
A wonderful post that hits the truth of bravery: that it isn't a feeling! Stopping by from FMF. Bless you.
Great way to explain "brave." I keep think of a quote by Anne Lamott - Courage is fear that has said its prayers. I think it is okay to be afraid; brave is moving forward anyway.
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