Word of the Week: Courage

Yesterday I had the chance to go to King’s Dominion with the youth group. It’s not often I get to spend time with the teenagers in our church and it was wonderful! We have some incredible teens here and I praise God for them.

One of the things that moved me the most was riding roller coasters with two of the middle school boys. They were so nervous. Who isn’t the first time you ride a big roller coaster? And yet, even in the face of their fear, they got on one after the other and ended up having a fun-filled day. They trusted that the joy would be worth it, so they powered through their fears toward the end goal. I was so impressed at their courage!

As I watched them, I thought this was a beautiful illustration of the Christian life. So often the life of faith calls us to go out into the unknown – into the very things that make us nervous and afraid. Abraham left his home and set out for a foreign land to inherit the promises of God (Heb. 11:8). Moses rejected the comfort of a king and suffered to be counted among God’s people (Heb. 11:24-26). Rahab abandoned the world she knew believing that God would be her God (Heb. 11:31). Jesus Christ died, trusting that three days later he would rise again (Heb. 12:2). The life of faith is a life of courage, going out into the unknown with the confidence that the promised reward is worthwhile. That’s what I saw in those two middle schoolers yesterday and that’s what I see in so many of you.

I know that many of you get tired and discouraged. I know that faith is hard. But, brothers and sisters, take heart and have courage. Our Lord is faithful and his promises are true.