5 Reasons to Take Strong Courage Today
There are times in life when we need someone to say to us,
“Take Courage!” or “Take Heart!” Like the time I was about to rappel backward
over a cliff. I looked down and it was a long, long way, and I’d never done
this before. My friend who had secured my rope to a tree assured me, “Just push
off backward. You’ll be OK. You’re tied to a tree.”
When we are discouraged, we need to hear someone say, “Take
Courage.” Maybe you are facing an overwhelming situation. Maybe you were
recently laid off or face an uncertain future. Perhaps you are facing a serious
health challenge. Maybe you’re not facing a life and death situation but you’re
facing several crazy kids who have the gift of frazzling. But at one time or
another, we all need to hear God say, “Take courage.”
Here are a few reasons we
can:
Because God himself is with us
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God
is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1.9
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in
dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave
you or forsake you.” DT 31.6
We can take courage because we aren’t facing our challenges
alone. God, the creator of the universe, the all-powerful One, is right here
with us. He’s not far off and uninvolved. When we don’t know what to do, he
does. He’s never tired, never weary, never takes a break.
Because God has a plan for us
The following night the Lord stood by him and
said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in
Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” AC 23.11
God has a plan for each one of his children and he will
fulfill that plan. We don’t have to fulfill some destiny for ourselves; God is
accomplishing his work through us. And he never fails to complete his plans.
Because Jesus has overcome the world
I have said these things to you, that in me you
may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have
overcome the world.” JN 16.33
Jesus said we WILL have tribulation in this world. We
shouldn’t be surprised by it. If we look at this world only we will lose heart.
But we can “take heart” and take courage, for Jesus is greater than the world
and he has already overcome it. Nothing in this world can defeat our Mighty
Conqueror. And he has overcome the world for us—for those he redeemed.
Because nothing can separate us from God’s love
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
danger, or sword? (RO 8.35)
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor
angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (RO 8.38-39)
No matter what we are going through, we can be assured that
it hasn’t separated us from Christ’s love. And if he loves us, we can take
heart that he will protect us, provide for us, guide us and help us. Nothing in
all creation can separate us from his love. Whether we lose our jobs or our
homes or our health or even our minds, Jesus will hold us in his love and never
let us go. So take courage.
Because God himself will strengthen us
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and
will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has
become my salvation. IS 12.2
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed,
for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand. IS
41.10
We don’t have to somehow summon up strength from within
ourselves. If you don’t think you have the strength to make it through, well,
you’re absolutely right. You don’t. We don’t have the strength to part the Red
Sea or be cheerful in the midst of kids melting down, but God does. And he will
pour his strength into us.
When you look down from the edge of the cliff, it looks
like a long, long fall. Take courage, you’re tied to an almighty immovable
Tree. Don’t worry if you’ll have enough courage for tomorrow. God will give you
all the strength you need for today. And he’s got bags and bags of grace stored
up for tomorrow, a whole warehouse of grace stored up for the future.
Mark Altrogge is the original triple threat: singer,
songwriter, pastor. He has been the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of
Indiana, PA for over 25 years, and is the author of many well known worship
songs such as “I Stand In Awe”, and “In The Presence”. When not pastoring or
writing songs, Mark can be found consuming vast quantities of coffee.
Unfortunately, Mark is not particularly gifted in the area of athletics.
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