Lessons In Bravery: Part One
I believe that we are a generation that wants to be brave. We are people who long for intimacy, who long to make lasting impact on the world around us, and who long to be of importance in grand ways. All of these things require bravery, and they require a lot of it. I don't know of anybody who truly desires to go through life timidly, like a breeze barely tickling through the leaves of trees or sweeping unnoticed against someone's skin. No, I believe that in the depths of our hearts we are a generation who desires to be bold - blasting through this broken world like the breath of a battle cry, dauntlessly creating change while bettering ourselves and the people around us.
The problem is that instead of living in bravery, we accept a life of fear.
For most of my life, I've struggled with fear in one way or another - and I'd hazard a guess that you've struggled with it in some way too. Unfortunately, fear is a tricky mistress; it tends to exist in layers, throwing down roots in your heart that grow walls, tendencies, and false beliefs that become more convoluted the longer they exist. In my life, I developed a method of coping with the fears that I had, and unfortunately it was the worst method you can ever employ. I buried my fear, ignored it, and then built over it.
The thing is, we're all built on a foundation of some sort. But fear acts like an acid, burning holes in our spirits and gouging out holes in the foundation of our lives. Since most of the time we run from our fears instead of confronting them, we end up trying to sweep the fear under the rug and ignore it, while simultaneously creating new things in our lives to cover up that foundational hole and make it unnoticeable. The result of this? Living in a complete delusion. Why? Because as you try to avoid your fears, you build what becomes an alternate reality that doesn't include them. You then carry on in your deluded version of reality, avoid the truth of your situation, and end up built up on a false foundation - a foundation precariously perched upon a giant hole in your life caused by fear.
The problem is that instead of living in bravery, we accept a life of fear.
For most of my life, I've struggled with fear in one way or another - and I'd hazard a guess that you've struggled with it in some way too. Unfortunately, fear is a tricky mistress; it tends to exist in layers, throwing down roots in your heart that grow walls, tendencies, and false beliefs that become more convoluted the longer they exist. In my life, I developed a method of coping with the fears that I had, and unfortunately it was the worst method you can ever employ. I buried my fear, ignored it, and then built over it.
The thing is, we're all built on a foundation of some sort. But fear acts like an acid, burning holes in our spirits and gouging out holes in the foundation of our lives. Since most of the time we run from our fears instead of confronting them, we end up trying to sweep the fear under the rug and ignore it, while simultaneously creating new things in our lives to cover up that foundational hole and make it unnoticeable. The result of this? Living in a complete delusion. Why? Because as you try to avoid your fears, you build what becomes an alternate reality that doesn't include them. You then carry on in your deluded version of reality, avoid the truth of your situation, and end up built up on a false foundation - a foundation precariously perched upon a giant hole in your life caused by fear.
I didn't realize how much I've done this in my life until recently, when I began a season of life in which I wanted to intentionally open up and be very transparent. During this process, I realized that there were a lot of traits that I thought I possessed that I don't actually have. For example, I always say that I'm straightforward, good with confrontation, and able to discuss and express emotions easily. In some situations, I am. However, I'm only like that in situations that are very superficial and where I feel like I'm in control and not vulnerable. When I'm placed into a situation that goes past my public, outward self and reaches into a personal space, I shut down. I run from confrontation, can't express myself, and panic when I reach new levels of vulnerability.
Looking back, I now see that I tried to adapt these qualities as a sort of defense mechanism. I never confronted my fear or hurts, so I just created a persona that didn't involve the effects of them. But doing this can only last for so long, and the problems will always come back around to bite you. I learned a long time ago that God wants us to grow through things, not push them into the past and grow over them without dealing with them. There are things in all of our lives that we need to deal with, and the more readily we do that the healthier and more equipped we'll be.
We need to confront fear in order to be brave. Fear's trick is that it looks us in the face and tells us that we can't look back at it. It tells us to close our eyes and accept a crippled life, whispering to us that we're not brave and that's just how it is. But fear is a liar, because what fear doesn't tell you is that you can open your eyes and stare it back in the face. Fear is nothing but the desperate last attempt of a defeated and powerless enemy who is gritting his teeth praying that you won't trust in the promises of God.
Over the next couple of weeks, we're going to talk (or I'm going to write and you're going to read) about different areas of fear in our lives and the freedom exists when we confront that fear with the bravery the Word of God equips us with.
To grow, we need to be brave.
To have healthy spirits, we need to be brave.
To live, we must be brave.
And now's the time.
"Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.” (2 Samuel 10:12)
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Over the next couple of weeks, we're going to talk (or I'm going to write and you're going to read) about different areas of fear in our lives and the freedom exists when we confront that fear with the bravery the Word of God equips us with.
To grow, we need to be brave.
To have healthy spirits, we need to be brave.
To live, we must be brave.
And now's the time.
"Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.” (2 Samuel 10:12)
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
2 Samuel 10:12
"Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our
people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good
in His sight."
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Bravery#sthash.d2E2T871.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Bravery#sthash.d2E2T871.dpuf
2 Samuel 10:12
"Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our
people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good
in His sight."
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Bravery#sthash.d2E2T871.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Bravery#sthash.d2E2T871.dpuf
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