You Make Me Brave...
As a kid, I would occasionally dream about traveling the world. I thought it amazing to be adventurous, mostly because I thought: to be adventurous meant that you needed to have brave and heroic qualities. Unfortunately, as my childhood progressed, I had never really considered myself having either, at least not until later in my adult years.
Maybe, that is why I would dream about traveling, because in my dreams I was brave and heroic, like how I would imagine Emelia Earhart, as she flew over the Atlantic Ocean...or an unknown archeologist on the brink of rediscovering ancient artifacts at the pyramids of Giza...
God is so funny because He has made me what I never thought I would become....the woman I would dream about growing up to be (and thank God for that!) Not that I feel, at any given moment, "brave" or "heroic," but moving forward in circumstance seems to be labeled "brave" these days. Because of the experiences of my travels, many have deemed me "brave" ... or comment on how much "courage" I must of had to go through such adventures.
Still, I can reluctantly agree, 'I guess, I have been brave,' and maybe, the kid-version of myself would agree with the approvals I'm hearing from others...but...I guess what I imagine feeling "brave" doesn't necessarily match up to to what being "brave"looks like.
Which makes me question, 'What is bravery?'
When I looked up a synonym for bravery, courage, this is what I found:
When you think about this definition...I think we all had experiences with courage. Whether its when you were a kid jumping into the unknown or something in your recent experience, I believe we all had to muster up strength to face pain or grief.
When I think about this definition, I guess I would consider myself brave... but I would also consider you to be also.
The funny thing about habits is that you don't really think about them. It seems "natural." But habits had to start from somewhere.
Bravery or being courageous is nothing different.
One choice after another starts becoming a habit.
I'm not saying that it is easy... or that you wouldn't come across uncomfortable circumstances... but that's what they are... circumstances. They come and go.
The question is, who do you want to be at the end of your day? The end of the year? The end of your life?
It just takes one choice at a time to walk in that direction.
I know, I know. It isn't that easy! I never said it was!
So going back to the Webster's definition, "strength in the face of pain or grief."
Where do you find this source of strength?
For me, it has been Jesus the whole time (at least the times that the results lasted with complete satisfaction.) He is the reason why I am brave.
I would like to take the credit. I would love to receive the applause (other than it makes me uncomfortable at times,) but when I look back on all those decisions to take steps of faith forward, it was my love of Jesus.
I know that kind of sounds a little kooky, and maybe very mystical, but its very simple. I owe my entire life to this person who gave up everything for me, and to me. He is amazingly kind, and generous, and patient and loving.
He is also God, who gave up his own life for me... and for you too.
He takes my shame, my pain, my bitterness, my anger, my hurt, my selfishness and brings me to new beginnings all the time! He shares everything He has in exchange for all the brokenness from my life to make new and restored things/relationships in my life!
He promises that He will never forsake me and will be with me always, always guide me, always pursue me. His joy will be my strength.
What better source of strength to draw from?
When I look back and see the person I was and who I am now. Completely different! You can ask my friends who have known me for longer than 7 years. COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! When it comes to bravery that is. ;) I think my friends would have described me as very timid, overwrought and frozen in fear of making the wrong decisions... completely overrun by what others thought of me.
When I look back and see that version of me, I can hardly recognize that person anymore. I wish I could told her the wonderful things instore so that I could have encouragement to move forward sooner, but still, I am SO THANKFUL for my Jesus, Pappa God, and Holy Spirit setting me free into new depths of transformation!!!
I believe the same is waiting for you. Just start one step at a time with Jesus, and see where He leads you! ;)
I'll leave you with the lyrics of Amanda Cook's, "You Make Me Brave"
As Your love, in wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You made a way for all to enter in
I have heard You calling my name
I have heard the song of love that You sing
So I will let You draw me out beyond the shore
Into Your grace
Your grace
You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises you made
As Your love, in wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You made a way for all to enter in
Maybe, that is why I would dream about traveling, because in my dreams I was brave and heroic, like how I would imagine Emelia Earhart, as she flew over the Atlantic Ocean...or an unknown archeologist on the brink of rediscovering ancient artifacts at the pyramids of Giza...
God is so funny because He has made me what I never thought I would become....the woman I would dream about growing up to be (and thank God for that!) Not that I feel, at any given moment, "brave" or "heroic," but moving forward in circumstance seems to be labeled "brave" these days. Because of the experiences of my travels, many have deemed me "brave" ... or comment on how much "courage" I must of had to go through such adventures.
Still, I can reluctantly agree, 'I guess, I have been brave,' and maybe, the kid-version of myself would agree with the approvals I'm hearing from others...but...I guess what I imagine feeling "brave" doesn't necessarily match up to to what being "brave"looks like.
Which makes me question, 'What is bravery?'
When I looked up a synonym for bravery, courage, this is what I found:
cour·age
[ˈkərij]
NOUN
- the ability to do something that frightens one:"she called on all her courage to face the ordeal"
- strength in the face of pain or grief:"he fought his illness with great courage"
When you think about this definition...I think we all had experiences with courage. Whether its when you were a kid jumping into the unknown or something in your recent experience, I believe we all had to muster up strength to face pain or grief.
When I think about this definition, I guess I would consider myself brave... but I would also consider you to be also.
The funny thing about habits is that you don't really think about them. It seems "natural." But habits had to start from somewhere.
Bravery or being courageous is nothing different.
One choice after another starts becoming a habit.
I'm not saying that it is easy... or that you wouldn't come across uncomfortable circumstances... but that's what they are... circumstances. They come and go.
The question is, who do you want to be at the end of your day? The end of the year? The end of your life?
It just takes one choice at a time to walk in that direction.
I know, I know. It isn't that easy! I never said it was!
So going back to the Webster's definition, "strength in the face of pain or grief."
Where do you find this source of strength?
For me, it has been Jesus the whole time (at least the times that the results lasted with complete satisfaction.) He is the reason why I am brave.
I would like to take the credit. I would love to receive the applause (other than it makes me uncomfortable at times,) but when I look back on all those decisions to take steps of faith forward, it was my love of Jesus.
I know that kind of sounds a little kooky, and maybe very mystical, but its very simple. I owe my entire life to this person who gave up everything for me, and to me. He is amazingly kind, and generous, and patient and loving.
He is also God, who gave up his own life for me... and for you too.
He takes my shame, my pain, my bitterness, my anger, my hurt, my selfishness and brings me to new beginnings all the time! He shares everything He has in exchange for all the brokenness from my life to make new and restored things/relationships in my life!
He promises that He will never forsake me and will be with me always, always guide me, always pursue me. His joy will be my strength.
What better source of strength to draw from?
When I look back and see the person I was and who I am now. Completely different! You can ask my friends who have known me for longer than 7 years. COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! When it comes to bravery that is. ;) I think my friends would have described me as very timid, overwrought and frozen in fear of making the wrong decisions... completely overrun by what others thought of me.
When I look back and see that version of me, I can hardly recognize that person anymore. I wish I could told her the wonderful things instore so that I could have encouragement to move forward sooner, but still, I am SO THANKFUL for my Jesus, Pappa God, and Holy Spirit setting me free into new depths of transformation!!!
I believe the same is waiting for you. Just start one step at a time with Jesus, and see where He leads you! ;)
I'll leave you with the lyrics of Amanda Cook's, "You Make Me Brave"
I stand before You now
The greatness of your renown
I have heard of the majesty and wonder of you
King of Heaven, in humility, I bow
The greatness of your renown
I have heard of the majesty and wonder of you
King of Heaven, in humility, I bow
As Your love, in wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You made a way for all to enter in
I have heard You calling my name
I have heard the song of love that You sing
So I will let You draw me out beyond the shore
Into Your grace
Your grace
You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way
You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises you made
As Your love, in wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You made a way for all to enter in
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