Brave
What does it mean to be brave?
I've been thinking about this a lot lately, especially since the earth-shattering Brave Love book entered into my life, and I have to say that courage and bravery looks different than I thought it would.
The brave person is not devoid of fear, in fact, they are ones who may feel it more than others.
The brave person is not impenetrable, in fact, only a truly courageous person would dare to be vulnerable and open themselves up to others.
The brave person is not walking around in total self confidence, in fact their minds are often plagued by self doubt.
The truth is, what separates a brave person from an ordinary person is as simple as a weak, "yes." What makes someone strong is not negating their weaknesses, it is acknowledging them so that they can be strengthened.
To be brave, to be strong, is to choose not to run away. It's to dig your heals in just enough to start to grow some roots. There, good intentions finally become actions and politeness can become genuine kindness. There, affection can grow to true love and insecurity can find boldness. There, the weak "yes" finds a resounding echo within the heart of the Creator.
Because let's not be mistaken, true bravery doesn't come when we say "yes" to ourselves, or when we decide to put in as much effort as physically, mentally, or emotionally possible into our "self-improvement." Bravery happens when self-sacrifice meets love and becomes boldness – where the whisper of the weak finds the war cry of the strong. It happens when heaven touches earth and a seemingly ordinary man gives his love to the point of death – the weakness of earth witnessing to the power of heaven.
Bravery happens when we say "yes" to HIM. He makes me brave, He makes me strong, and He reminds me that my insecurities, doubts, and fears need not be the hurdles that stop me from winning the race. In fact, His perfect love casts out all my fears, so that what is left is astounding courage rooted somewhere much more profound than my own strength: it is courage rooted in the knowledge that He is with me. He will be my shelter, He will be my inheritance. I have nothing to fear and nothing to lose, because it's all rubbish in comparison to knowing Him. With this understanding, I can look my insecurities and accusations in the eye and tell them they are no longer welcome here. I get to stand firm in the assurance of things I cannot see and tell this world, "you ain't seen nothing yet." I can be fiercely vulnerable, authentically courageous, and boldly brave because there is a greater story at stake here. I am no longer fighting for my life or my best chance, I am simply honored that I am part of His story and this is all for His name, not mine.
I choose to say yes, even if my yes is weak, because it's not about my power or my strength, but His love.
I've been thinking about this a lot lately, especially since the earth-shattering Brave Love book entered into my life, and I have to say that courage and bravery looks different than I thought it would.
The brave person is not devoid of fear, in fact, they are ones who may feel it more than others.
The brave person is not impenetrable, in fact, only a truly courageous person would dare to be vulnerable and open themselves up to others.
The brave person is not walking around in total self confidence, in fact their minds are often plagued by self doubt.
The truth is, what separates a brave person from an ordinary person is as simple as a weak, "yes." What makes someone strong is not negating their weaknesses, it is acknowledging them so that they can be strengthened.
To be brave, to be strong, is to choose not to run away. It's to dig your heals in just enough to start to grow some roots. There, good intentions finally become actions and politeness can become genuine kindness. There, affection can grow to true love and insecurity can find boldness. There, the weak "yes" finds a resounding echo within the heart of the Creator.
Because let's not be mistaken, true bravery doesn't come when we say "yes" to ourselves, or when we decide to put in as much effort as physically, mentally, or emotionally possible into our "self-improvement." Bravery happens when self-sacrifice meets love and becomes boldness – where the whisper of the weak finds the war cry of the strong. It happens when heaven touches earth and a seemingly ordinary man gives his love to the point of death – the weakness of earth witnessing to the power of heaven.
Bravery happens when we say "yes" to HIM. He makes me brave, He makes me strong, and He reminds me that my insecurities, doubts, and fears need not be the hurdles that stop me from winning the race. In fact, His perfect love casts out all my fears, so that what is left is astounding courage rooted somewhere much more profound than my own strength: it is courage rooted in the knowledge that He is with me. He will be my shelter, He will be my inheritance. I have nothing to fear and nothing to lose, because it's all rubbish in comparison to knowing Him. With this understanding, I can look my insecurities and accusations in the eye and tell them they are no longer welcome here. I get to stand firm in the assurance of things I cannot see and tell this world, "you ain't seen nothing yet." I can be fiercely vulnerable, authentically courageous, and boldly brave because there is a greater story at stake here. I am no longer fighting for my life or my best chance, I am simply honored that I am part of His story and this is all for His name, not mine.
I choose to say yes, even if my yes is weak, because it's not about my power or my strength, but His love.
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