The Gift Of Courage
“Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s to feel the fear and face it anyway.”
~ Jeanette Coron
Courage. It is a very important gift to have. It is one of the great gifts of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, it is often misunderstood.
Many people think that courage is the absence of fear. Because of that, they often do everything that they can to avoid whatever it is that leads them to fear. In all reality, that avoidance is not courage. It might be more defined as cowardice.
Courage is not avoiding fear but facing it head on, looking it in the eye, staring it down, and prevailing over it. When we can do that, we can do anything.
There are many people that do not grow in the faith because they fear. They fear rejection, they fear confrontation, they fear spiritual battles, they fear loss. They fear. Their fears often immobilize them. They wish and dream and hope that they can be different; but, they do nothing about it.
God gives us the courage that we need, as much as we want. It is all there for the asking. Ah, but that is the rub, is it not. We have to ask. And, when we ask, we need to use it.
If we use the gift of courage, our heart becomes free from inactivity. It becomes open and responsive once again. It becomes a dynamic force in a world that is beset by fear. Imagine the example we can give to people who are frozen in fear if we step out in faith. Knowing that we encounter the same fears that they do, we can help them to accept God’s gift and face their fear as well.
We can be — we will be — an example for others today. The only question that remains is: Will we be a good example?
Be courageous and live the faith.
FAITH ACTION: Pray that you may be able to face the fears that may come into your life with grace and conviction.