Take Courage

15 January

Our friend the mist returned for two sweet days of cool respite. It wrapped our wooden cabin in moist tendrils, obscuring the mountains and pine forests that surround us. We drove out to walk beside a lane of venerable oak trees, the sole remnants of a former farmstead. Strange mushrooms sprout from their gnarled, moss covered trunks, lending an otherworldliness to the landscape.  A herd of speckled cattle emerged from the mist, to watch our progress with bovine suspicion. As I snuck closer to photograph them, they turned to face me with that stolid dignity of cattle. I admired the sweep and curve of their horns, from what I hoped was a safe distance. I tried cooing some reasuring words, and for a lengthy moment we just continued to stare at each other. With feigned confidence, I raised my arms above my head, and as one organism, the whole herd turned and thundered away.

16 January

When the boys were little, they'd run out onto the deck to call the "mist dragon", as the first foggy swirls rose up from the valley. They'd shriek excitedly as it loomed larger and closer, it's swaying jaws gaping wider and wider... Then we'd tumble laughing into the safety of our cabin, swiftly closing the door on "danger".

17 January

Pretending to be scared was fun, but full-blown fear or worry is a debilitating, often overwhelming emotion. "Fear is often our natural response. We don't have to think of all the reasons to be afraid, fear comes unbidden. But being strong and courageous doesn't come naturally. Often we have to think through different reasons why we ought to overcome our fears with courage. God calls us to take courage, because it doesn't just come naturally, we have to fight for it. Confronted with fears from every side and even from within, courage must be seized." ~ John Bloom, Desiring God.org

22 January 

There is a man in the Bible whom I feel I've only just "met". He appears briefly in the book of Numbers as "the other" of the two spies who didn't doubt when they were sent to reconnoitre the promised land of Canaan. Twelve scouts were sent out, ten came back full of terror and trepidation.They feared the people living in that land, who were said to be collosal and powerful, not the kind of guys you'd want to meet at night in a dark alley. They feared their numbers and they feared their well fortified city. But then Caleb steps up and says: "Only rebel ye not against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land, for they are bread for us, their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us, fear them not." ~ Numbers 14:9 KJV

(The name Caleb, means "dog", not the most flattering name in biblical times. But God had a plan for Caleb's life...)

"They are bread for us..." Right there, Caleb saw what I so often fail to see, that trials are the very thing that strengthen us. That the "giants we conquer are as bread to our soul, and so by the power of God working in and through us, we grow." ~ Darlene Schacht, Slaying Giants. 

James, the brother of Jesus said: "Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverence. Let perseverence finish it's work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." ~ James 1:2-4 The word "count" here is a financial term, meaning to evaluate. James encourages us to evaluate the way we look at trials. An athlete or a soldier may look forward to physical and mental challenges because of the benefits that follow. Trials develop our spiritual muscles, giving us the the stamina and endurance to stay the course. I can "count it all joy" in hardship, because in and through them, I learn to fully depend on God and trust Him and His wisdom. Tested faith becomes refined, rugged, courageous, uncompromising. C.S. Lewis said : "Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at its testing point." I can choose to face trials with courage and confidence, not necessarily for what they presently are, but for the outcome God wants to accomplish through them.

Back to Caleb. He was given the courage to face a seemingly impossible challenge, because He believed that God would fulfill the promise He'd given them. And in the process, their faith in Him, would grow ever stronger. So when we meet him again in Joshua 14, Joshua is dividing up the land between families. As Caleb had been faithful, he was given a choice. Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, he chooses to go and live in the land of the giants. And this is what he had to say about his choice: " Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel was moving about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty five years old. I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out, I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said." ~ Joshua 14:10

23 January

Israel's warrior Caleb, at 85 years of age, still knew how to take courage. He could have settled on a sweet tract of land and spent the rest of his days sitting on the porch watching the olives grow. But he'd seen God's promises unfold, he'd witnessed God's power and might, his faith had been tested and honed. So, choosing courage over comfort, he walked with "the Lord helping him", into battle once again, confident of the outcome. It's no coincidence that Caleb came from Judah, like our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah! "The more we read the Old Testament as books written by God, through His Spirit, about His Son, the more we grow in hope, in understanding, and in the likeness of our Saviour." Alistair Begg

The Bible says that faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the Word of God. Is God's Word not the very place we go to for courage and hope? His promises sustain us when nothing else can, because we know that the same God who changed Caleb "the dog" into a roaring lion, still upholds and strengthens us with His righteous right hand.

Whatever giant you may be facing today, remember this; the God of Israel is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Lean on Him, trust in His promises. Be en"couraged" by His faithfulness through all generations. Take captive in the name of Jesus, each anxious thought. The Lord Himself goes before you. The Lion of Judah is your conquering King, and He, will never fail or forsake you.

The Lord says: "I will rescue those who love me

I will protect those who trust in my Name.

When they call on me, I will answer,

I will be with them in trouble,

I will rescue and honour them,

I will reward them with long life and give them my salvation." 

~  Psalm 91:14-16

                                             ~✓~✓~✓~✓~✓~