COURAGE has become increasingly necessary as individuals choose to stand their ground and fight for the freedoms our country was founded on, knowing there will be a price to pay.
Earnest Hemingway said, “Courage is grace under pressure.”
Merriam-Webster defines Courage as, “the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous; mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.”
Courage has been echoed in my devotions in the past couple of weeks, I’ve read about courage in articles, and have watched courage played out, as professionals become fired from jobs they’ve held for decades over unconstitutional mandates.
I’d rather have courage and stand up for truth, right vs. wrong, morality, uncover insidious lies, and be ostracized than live lies for the sake of convenience and comfort.
You may be familiar with the old saying, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” Many in our society are falling right now.
Remember that the enemy, Satan is referred to as “The Father of Lies.” He is the great deceiver.
In a recent article that I read, titled, “Christians Don’t Need Fancy New Strategies Or Tactics To Tackle America’s Problems. They Need Courage” by Sean Davis, he states, “Christians will suffer because of what we believe. We must take the opportunity every single day, in every aspect of our lives, to demonstrate courage.”
The full article is here: Very worth the read.
Here are a few “take-a-ways” that I found intriguing:
“The Great Deceiver is no longer lurking in the shadows. Instead, he is out in the open and on the march. He is attacking every major institution in the country: business, military, sports, entertainment, education, and yes, even the church. He is telling you that sin is virtuous, that virtue is evil, that boys can become girls and vice versa. He is rapidly convincing huge swaths of this country to exchange truth for a lie.”
“We have gone from a country that worshipped and celebrated God and those who love him, to a country that tolerated God, to one that was annoyed by God and His people, to one that openly disdains and hates anyone who doesn’t worship at the secular alter of the state. Christian culture seems to be waning, while cancel culture is ascendant.”
He goes on to quote the Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn from an essay entitled “Live Not By Lies,” which reads, “For when people renounce lies, lies simply cease to exist. Like parasites, they can only survive when attached to a person.”
I can’t get this visual out of my mind. Lies can only survive when attached to a person, like parasites! We have the power to speak truth about the lies, and not let them become fueled through us.
Our country wasn’t founded by complacent, weak individuals – but courageous, godly men who fought for the freedoms we hold dear in this country.
Sam Adams, our second president and one of the most influential Founding Fathers said this in 1798, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion… Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Is there something that you are passionate or feel strongly about that requires courage to take a stand?
You may have seen this TED talk, where a dance party began at a music festival with just one, lone, brave soul. It started with a leader, willing to risk ridicule and humiliation, but the music was playing and he wanted to dance.
A second brave soul eventually pops up to join him. That person is welcomed in. The leader wasn’t seeking the spotlight or glory – the more, the merrier.
Soon a third and forth stand up and join in, as they were itching to dance too, but didn’t have the courage earlier.
Observing the brave being accepted, and doing what they were all deep down wanting to do (get up and dance), more and more continued to join in.
The small group became a movement, as more ran to join in.
It just took one brave and courageous person, doing what everyone wanted to do, and a movement began.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V74AxCqOTvgDerrick
Watch the beginning of Derrick’s TED talk on “a movement.”
Freedom isn’t free. It requires sacrifice, risk, and brave souls willing to stand… maybe alone at first.
Where are you itching to take a stand? Are you feeling nudged to be brave and courageous? Please answer in the comments below.
“But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.” 1 Peter 3:14(NIV)
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Your blogs have been so on point. I always know God is talking to us when the same message is being told over and over in different arenas. I’m hearing the message of courage and faith throughout many Christian blogs, sermons, newsletters, etc. God is calling us to take a stand for Him right now.
Thank you, Lorie! This message and the word “Courage” has been on my heart. God seems to echo the messages He wants to get out to His people. Like the rumble of thunder… the sound and vibration is getting closer to home. I do believe God is calling the church (all of us believers) to take a stand for Him too. Thank you for reading and for your encouraging comment. 🙂
There are SO many of us that feel this way and want to be “the one” to stand up. I think many are and starting to wake up. Some are even walking away from careers they love and their livelihood to take a stand against mandates. I love that courage! I think as more and more continue to take a stand, a movement will begin happening. United we stand, divided we fall. There’s enough of us if we just unite and have courage. Thanks for the great post and resources!
AMEN to that! United we stand! A movement is starting, and it is about time if you ask me.