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How do we choose courage?
Have you ever walked through seasons that overwhelmed you with emotion and heartache? This summer, though it held wonderful memories, also unlocked much heartache. Lots of hard, painful things have been going on in our family.
A friend who is a prayer warrior/encourager/amazing supporter sent me a card. When she called me “quietly courageous,” I about cried. I don’t feel courageous. At times, I feel like a failure. A coward. A snail curled into her shell.
But even a week after reading her kind words, I kept trying to analyze how she saw courage in me. God showed me a few things about how we walk in courage.
How we choose courage
Choosing courage is active. We don’t just say, “I’m going to live in courage.” We have to make the choices that help us live in quiet courage, especially when life is hard.
Courage is more about showing up, especially in hard, painful moments.
4 Unexpected How to's to Choose Courage in Hard Seasons—Courage is more about showing up, especially in the hard, painful moments #tellhisstory #choosecourage #perspective Click To TweetIt’s in those times of weakness, of feeling all the horrible emotions and trying not to get spun up in all the condemning thoughts when we have a choice. Will we trust God?
There. Right there is courage.
Courage is being transparent with the Lord
I like to be the one who has the plan to get through every circumstance. But you know what? Being determined to live by a plan subtracts God from the equation. Choosing courage looks like us admitting to God that what we’ve been doing isn’t working. It’s asking for His help, His perspective. His eyes to see things and people the way He does. Courage is owning the truth that we can’t do this (whatever “this” is) without Him holding our hand.
Courage is choosing to trust God more than ourselves and especially more than our fear
I’m a planner. I’ve shared before how my craving for control is a cover for fear. When I’m trying to control situations and myself, I trust myself far more than God. Trusting God requires us to believe He will work His best plan in our lives and in the lives of those we love. We can’t trust God and still be in control.
We either trust God, or we trust ourselves the most.
Fear feels so real, but God is bigger and far more powerful than fear. When things seem dark, and hope seems distant, God is trustworthy and steady. He loves us and will bring us through our hard seasons.
The truth is, sometimes God allows the worst case to become reality. This truth tempts me to fear rather than trust Him. But it’s only when we trust our Father, no matter the outcome—and His love for us—that we find peace in the hard seasons.
Choosing courage is asking God to meet our needs
Especially in the United States, we are blessed with so much that allows us to live with a large degree of self-sufficiency. This is a blessing, but it can become a curse because we then begin to believe we can meet all our own needs.
4 Unexpected How to's to Choose Courage in Hard Seasons—God values a humble heart. When we choose humility and invite God into our hard season, that’s a way to choose courage #tellhisstory #choosecourage #humility Click To TweetWhen we ask God for what we need, He is always faithful to provide it, whatever “It” is. Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual needs—nothing is too difficult for Him to provide. It’s humbling to ask someone else to meet our needs. But the thing is, God values a humble heart. When we choose humility and invite God into our hard season, that’s a way to choose courage.
And God honors that.
Conclusion
I’m still in the middle of my hard season, but I’m choosing courage. This doesn’t mean pulling a Super Woman and flying into danger. Courage is often a quiet, unobtrusive decision made moment after moment. And trusting God will meet us right there.
Regardless of where we are right now, let’s choose to walk in quiet courage that simply shows up and trust God to bring us through.
What about you? What does quiet courage look like in your life? How do you live out courage in your difficult seasons?
Watch a short video I created for you on choosing courage.
*****Since next week is the first Tuesday of the month, we’ll link up right back here.*****
Come share your story at the Tell His Story linkup. Connect and be encouraged by like-minded friends! #tellhisstory #linkup Click To TweetMost weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
So much encouraging truth here, Jeanne. I agree with your friend … you are quietly courageous. Definitely not a failure or a coward. ❤️ I would have to say that any courage I have is probably only noticed in retrospect, if at all. In the middle of a hard season, I cling to the promise that God’s strength is perfected in my weakness. I’m so thankful that He holds us fast. And our loved ones. Praying for you, my friend.
Lois, thank you for your kind words. The verse you mention here about God’s promise that His strength is perfected in our weakness is powerful. Holding that one close to my heart today. Thank you for your prayers!
courage is definitely about showing up even when you’re scared! Great post, Jeanne!
Thanks so much, Kathy!
Jeanne, I’m sorry for the hard and painful things in your family. Those are difficult seasons to walk through. But I also like your insight here, especially, “Courage is more about showing up, especially in hard, painful moments.” Most of us want to run and hide during the hard and painful moments in life.
“Lord, make me courageous in You!
Karen, thank you. and yes, our first inclination is often to run and hide rather than to show up in the hard, painful moments. I appreciate you!
Choosing courage today and praying for you in this moment, Jeanne.
Blessings,
Tammy
I’m glad you’re choosing courage, Tammy. thank you for your prayers!
“Courage is often a quiet, unobtrusive decision made moment after moment. And trusting God will meet us right there.” So true, Jeanne. Thank you for these reflections. Love and blessings of courage in the midst of your hard!
Trudy, thank you for your encouragement. I hope you’re enjoying your long weekend! And, I’m sending love and blessings back at you, friend.
I appreciate your transparency, Jeanne. In hard seasons I can want to hunker down and plan. Somehow, we are bred to believe we got to DO something when things are hard, but maybe the doing is having the courage to let go, and trust God. And “choose to walk in quiet courage that simply shows up and trust God to bring us through.” Amen!
Lynn, I think you’re right. Somehow, we seem to think doing something—anything—is what we should do in hard seasons. I love your thoughts about courage sometimes being the willingness to let go and trust God. I so appreciate your wisdom, friend.
Amen! “Trusting God will meet us right there,” takes real courage on days when the enemy is screaming at you. But He IS there. He always is because He has promised to never leave or forsake us.
Jerralea, it truly does take courage to trust God to meet us in those difficult places. But as you share, He is always there with us. And that promise is one I cling to often! Thanks so much for visiting!
I’m so sad to hear this summer has been so painful, Jeanne. I’m sending you a big hug. “I’m still in the middle of my hard season, but I’m choosing courage. Courage is often a quiet, unobtrusive decision made moment after moment. And trusting God will meet us right here.” I’m praying the Lord will give you wisdom in every relationship and in every scenario, you find yourself. I pray you know His loving Presence surrounding you in the midst of…everything.
Lisa, thank you. We all have those difficult seasons, don’t we? I’ll take that hug. Thank you. Thank you for those prayers. They are spot on.
Courage is choosing to trust God more than ourselves and especially more than our fear – Yes! Coming to you from Anita’s Inspire Me
Oh, Mandy. I love your words. Yes, courage is choosing to trust God more than us, and especially more than our fear. Easier said than lived out sometimes. I’m so glad you stopped by!
Jeanne, your words here are powerful. I believe courage IS quiet. It’s not the bravado of running headlong into the fray, but the quiet choosing moment by moment to relinquish [my] control to my Loving sovereign Father, and trusting the outcome to Him. Thank you for leading the way!
Donna, I agree with you. Courage is not bravado, but it is quiet, choosing to relinquish our control into the hands of our loving Father. Great thoughts. Thank you for being such an encourager!
I’m over here raising my hand as a fellow compulsive planner. It feels so vulnerable to look into a future with no road map or even just a part of a plan. Thanks for sharing your journey here.
Awww, friend. If we lived close enough, I think we’d have lots of coffee dates to find out just how similar we are. You’re right. It does feel vulnerable to look into the future with no road map guiding each step. Thankfully, our Father leads us, right? Thank you for being here.
I love your video. You’re a natural, Jeanne! Welcome back …
Thanks, friend. I’m trying my hand at more videos. Kinda scary and kinda fun. It’s good to be back. I’ve missed you.
Your honesty is refreshing and encouraging.
Barbara, thank you for your kind words!
For me, the past three years I’ve had to be courageous and trust God completely to care for us and see us through. Yes, courage is trusting God. Having faith that He has it handled and all under His control. Thank you for the party.
Amy, something powerful happens to our faith when we have to trust God completely. I’m so thankful He is always faithful and always with us. And I’m especially grateful He is always in control. Thanks for being here!
Good points, Jeanne. I don’t think many of us feel superhero courage. I especially like this: “Courage is often a quiet, unobtrusive decision made moment after moment. And trusting God will meet us right there.” Walking by faith, not by sight, step by step, depending on God.
Trusting God really is the key, isn’t it, Barbara? Walk by faith, not by faith, step by step, depending on God. Yes, ma’am.
Love you, dearest!
Thanks, sweet friend.
I don’t believe in courage, at least not my own. Cancer’s got me scared to death (hahahaha), and I really want to be somewhere else.
Courage is not what I do,
and it’s neither what I feel.
Courage ain’t remotely true
when I face the dreadful real.
Courage was a game I’d play
when the stakes weren’t very high,
but it left upon the day
when the hardest death came nigh,
and it’s replacement’s desperation,
wanting to be somewhere else
for the grinding-down duration
that will thin and crack the shells
made of vain and boasting pride
beneath which I, a coward, hide.
Andrew, your poem is thought-provoking and challenges me to contemplate motivations behind courage. I appreciate your thoughts. You’re right. When we come face-to-face with the worst kind of awful, we realize who we really are. Thank you for this.
I’m praying for you and Barb, my friend.