What do you think it takes to be brave? Is bravery approaching a handsome guy and asking him out or fixing the toilet by yourself? How about burying your mother? Leaving a marriage that is quicksand? Maybe it was just making it through today.
Despite being synonyms, our language interchanges courage and bravery yet they mean different things. Courage is the ability to do something frightening. It requires action to attempt something of which we were previously afraid. Bravery is being ready to face an unknown danger and endure pain; nothing else is required besides readiness.
Courage is traveling halfway across the country alone. Bravery is steadfastness while our faith is persecuted when someone we love is adamantly rebelling against God. Courage is going into a restaurant to eat alone for the first time. Bravery is standing fast for what is righteous when it’s easier to walk away. Courage is standing up and saying out loud that we serve The Lord. Bravery is telling God we are ready to be pruned and serve, then allowing His perfect Will to manifest with excitement for the revelations and changes.
The Bible associates bravery with warriors and is mentioned most in the story of David, shepherd boy turned king, chosen by God to lead the people. Samuel and Ezra, primary writers of the account, use the word brave to describe the warriors David was up against, which lends extreme credit since David was a deft warrior and decorated battle hero. Bravery was associated solely with men in these accounts because women were supposed to be supportive and loving wives and mothers. So how do we, especially women, be brave? Ruth was brave. Esther was brave. Mary was definitely brave. They were simply ready. Unsure, full of faith, and ready.
How do we practice bravery? We prepare our hearts in prayer, seek God’s Will through His Word, and share our joys and sorrows. As much as we want to fix seemingly easy problems for our loved ones, we must allow them to seek The Lord on their own and face Him directly so that they may find their own unique opportunities to be brave. We each need to feel His almighty power because, when we fix others, they look to us rather than God for strength, courage, and help. We should stand in prayer with them, offer Godly counsel, and refer them to scripture so they are equipped to be brave.
Let me tell you friends, the bravest stance we will take is to helplessly and prayerfully watch someone reject God’s Love and Grace. Be in prayer for them, love them, and know that God has a plan that will be revealed in His perfect timing. I’m going to be straightforward; attempting to fix others takes away the opportunity for them to grow their own faith and, as a result, they are robbed of the joy that comes in the morning. Having said that, standing by and allowing someone else to hurt and face their own consequences is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But, that’s part of us growing our own faith. This is me, desiring to catapult my faith, failing often, while learning to let go and let God.
Pray for bravery and discernment for your situations and watch what God does with your faith. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
