Where Strength and Courage Come From

Don’t expect life to be without storms. A sea captain facing the greatest of storms must do one thing, and that is put the ship in a certain position and keep it there.

Come what may—winds, waves, cross-seas, thunder, lightning, rocks, or roaring breakers.

Similarly, in our daily walk, in order to ride life’s many ups and downs triumphantly, you need to be fixated on a certain position, holding in your sight a vision of what really matters to you, what is important in the grand scheme of things, and what your ultimate goal and destination are, letting everything else go. The vision, once clear in your mind, will function as a proverbial lighthouse guiding your steps forward. The vision should align with God’s plan for your life. It then becomes your purpose.

Strength and courage are not going to miraculously show up at your doorstep the day an unexpected storm slaps you in the face. Just like muscles take months of resistance training—breaking down and building up—to form, so do courage and strength. You do this by strengthening your relationship with Christ and by gaining wisdom (Proverbs 2). Because from wisdom comes security.

Check in with Him daily, consult Him on all your decisions, and obey His commands. It’s a narrow road that can lead to safety.

Getting tested or forged-in-the-fire by life’s sometimes tumultuous twists and turns is how we grow in our spiritual walk. It is how we learn to write our very own hero’s journey. Don’t expect life to be without storms.

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. . . . Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:5, 9 NKJV).