Our world is beyond frightening. Yet, it is so vital our young people possess the courage to live joy-filled, not fear-filled. The question is how do we teach courage? Maybe, courage is incapable of being taught. Possibly, it only grows as an offshoot — an outgrowth of faith, hope and love having been planted, watered and rooted.
“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 nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)
“For the Lord your God goes with you”… Is Scripture proclaiming courage not coming from ourselves but rather from God going with us? I, 100%, declare Amen, Halleluia and yes!!! I firmly believe man’s outer courage stems from God’s residing inside our being — our minds, our hearts and our souls. If you know God, love God and trust God, then God’s courage is seeded, grows and branches forth from your life.
Imaginary courage is of man — Superman, Batman, Spiderman, etc… True courage, plain and simple, is of God.
On Halloween, children by the hordes don the outer apparel of fictitious brave characters; but not an ounce of inner courage is transmitted through these costumes, for courage is not acquired. Courage is inspired — inspired by God and the Holy Spirit living within us. Costumes are man’s cut and sewn material coverings. Courage is God’s woven fibers of faith, hope and love having become the fabric of our hearts and souls.
The world never sells the symbol for courage as dressing up as Christ on Halloween — or any other day of the year. But every day we should display courage by wearing Christ both inside and outside our being. What’s more, next time a little one pretends he’s a worldly hero, may we all have the courage to share the story that replaces fantasy with truth. It’s past time that Spiderman’s fictitious courage is humbled and replaced by our God who created both spiders and man; and who, truly, is the source of all real courage.
Uplifted in a Broken Down World 