I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
One day my son told me he was thinking of getting a tattoo that said “Fearless.” While I understand what he was getting at and admire the thought behind it, “fearless” wasn’t the right word he was looking for. We’d all love to be fearless, but it’s simply impossible. You see, great champions aren’t fearless—they just do what they need to do despite the fear.
The word “courageous” better describes what my son was trying to say. Courage is not the absence of fear; it’s the decision to stand up in spite of how you feel. It isn’t something you either have, or don’t. Courage is about choosing to carry on even when times are tough. The decision to be courageous is made moment to moment.
The Bible talks about courage. It says we need courage to enjoy the best that God has for us. There needs to be a fire in us—a fight inside that says our health, our marriages, our kids, our country, and our faith are worth fighting for. Some relationships and seasons in life will require courage to walk through.
The decision not to bow to our problems isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary in order to move forward. We must refuse to stay in the defeated zone and instead learn to stand up and push through, motivated by the determination to solve every problem that rises up against us.
Never underestimate the power of your choices. Make the conscious decision to tackle whatever you are facing with courage, even when it’s hard. Jesus will be right there with you, empowering you through it all.