I have been exploring courage this year as this word landed into my soul as my word of the year. Courage came to me not by choice, but quite abruptly announced its presence into my life the end of last year and told me it would live and stir in my thoughts and mind in 2025. And man has it.
I am going to be painfully honest in this post.
In August, my spirit entered a dark place. I received some discouraging news. Nothing horrible in the whole realm of what many of friends have endured this year, but more of a relationship disappointment that rekindled a brokenness wound. My journaling words turned gloomy. My energy sank. I grew very quiet and withdrawn. Yes, depressed.
One morning in prayer I knew I just didn’t want to live this way anymore. This wasn’t how God wanted me to live but I wasn’t sure how to get out of the pit I sat in. I realized I didn’t have the strength or the courage to climb out on my own. “Lord, I need you. I can’t do this by myself.”
I felt God climb into the pit with me and sit quietly next to me. The Spirit wrapped Her arms of comfort around me and waited until my tears stopped flowing and I felt strong enough to stand. Slowly we emerged together into the Light.
Courage didn’t come from me. Courage to arise and begin to live once again came from above, from outside of me. Courage was a gift from God.
This past incident taught me lessons about courage:
- Courage is often birth in honest, raw confession of what we can’t do and humbly, asking for help.
- Courage sometimes needs rest first, then the next steps will appear.
- Courage arises from our brokenness and leaning on God, not our own strength.
- Courage is a choice. We ask, seek, and choose to reach out and move forward and not sit in self-pity.
- Courage is moving past our fears and our wounds and releasing them.
- Courage can be a cocktail of humbleness, encouragement, and amazement all in one. A tasty and bittersweet drink to swallow.
- Courage brought safety, but somehow lack of courage is more risky.
I am sure I will continue to learn more about courage even after this year is done. I wouldn’t have chosen this word nor this past month’s lessons, but the wisdom gained has been invaluable. I am so thankful God is walking with me while guiding and teaching me all the days of my life.
What lessons are you learning lately?
Thank you for being so vulnerable here, Jean. It’s helpful to see that others also have times of depression and sorrow that aren’t always easily explained or fixable. I love that courage has been such a strong presence with you all year. Sometimes our one words fade away quickly, but other times they really stick with us. I’ve learned so much about courage too by reading your posts. This especially stood out to me tonight: “Courage can be a cocktail of humbleness, encouragement, and amazement all in one.” Thank you, Jean!
It has amazed me that a word I didn’t and wouldn’t have chosen has been so useful and helpful this year providing such insights along the way. so good to pay attention!!
These statements especially spoke to my heart, Jean: “Courage is a choice. We ask, seek, and choose to reach out and move forward.” Many heroes who’ve been congratulated for their courage have said they were very afraid in the midst of their crisis, but went ahead anyway to accomplish what needed to be done. They chose to move forward, just as you’ve described. Even in lesser matters than life-and-death situations, we need to exercise such courage and step out in faith. (Lord, help me to do so!)
we do choose courage. I am learning that and so much more about this word this year. What a rich word of the year this has been!
“Lord, I need you. I can’t do this by myself.”
Jean, aren’t these our best prayers, when we give it all up to Him, releasing expectations and hopes and dreams and sadness and discouragement. All of it.
He carries us through the dark patches into the light again. I hope these final weeks of summer will give you a hopeful encouragement, friend . . .
Praying for you.
You are so right, Linda. Once I gave up trying to do on my own and controlling everything, things got better. Duh! Take courage thought to let go…. Thanks for your prayers.