In All of these Things: Be Courageous

Be Courageous! It’s been crazy the last couple of weeks (or months/years). Things are changing rapidly. I remember this time last year when Oklahoma had record flooding and I thought to myself ‘I have never seen anything like this’. It started raining and never stopped until numerous towns were underwater. Some people are still trying to recover from that event. Fast forward a year and now we have a pandemic on our hands. Once again, I thought to myself ‘I have never seen anything like it’.  This pandemic brought unemployment, sickness and disease, and death by the thousands. Fast forward again and we now have a global resistance to racism. Things are changing rapidly. Sometimes rapid change can cause us to become disillusioned or confused. But remember, we, God’s children, have an advocate with the Father. All we have to do is ask for help. Be Courageous!  As I thought about all of these things happening I wanted to share some quotes, some Biblical, some not, but appropriate.

1. John 16:33 – Jesus said,  ^“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”
2. Joshua 1:9 paraphrased – I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let God’s truth be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.
3. President Thomas Whitmore – Independence Day:   “We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. We will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution… but from annihilation. We’re fighting for our right to live. To exist!  We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive!”
4. King T’Challa UN speech – Black Panther:  We can no longer watch from the shadows. “We can not. We must not. We will work to be an example of how we, as brothers and sisters on this earth, should treat each other. Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe.”

Don’t give up. God is with you. Keep fighting with faith and trust in God. Resist the devil and he will flee. Count on it. Be Courageous!