Courageous - Being Daughters rooted in Graceनमुना

My hope is that you hear the heart behind the words I write and the Scripture I share. I pray that you will know, without any shadow of a doubt, that you are loved. I believe that if you deeply understand agape love, everything else in your life will flow from that fullness. We can love others only when we ourselves are loved. We can give away only what we have received. I hope you receive these words.

It takes enormous courage to love and be loved well—but I do not wish to speak about heroism or bravery. The kind of courage I’m inviting us to know wholeheartedly comes from a deep awareness of who we are and to whom we belong. What if we knew that, because of our identity, we are in courage, so we do not have to produce it on our own? If we knew we always had a safe place to land, along with an endless source of strength, I believe we would be able to venture into unknown territories and live with greater meaning.

Recently, I was having lunch with a friend, and an elderly man approached our table. He held the rich wisdom of Oswald Chambers in his hand, a hint of abiding faith in old age. He spoke slowly, with steady intention, as if starting a sermon.

“In courage. In joy. To be in . . .” He wrapped a piece of paper around his arm, repeating the word in and affirming that courage, comfort, joy, and peace are found in the envelopment of God’s love. He went on to say, “Enjoy. Encourage.” His words flowed from the depths of his soul. If not for the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I might have passed this moment off as a lonely old man needing to be heard. 

“Are your thoughts from Oswald?” I asked.

He looked me in the eye and humbly stated, “No, that was from God.”

I smiled, goose bumps rising on my skin. He responded with a quiet grin, and through his crystal-blue eyes, I could see a story of one who had been misjudged and overlooked. As he turned to leave, I said, “Thank you and in-joy your day.” I wanted him to know I had received his point.

Do you live as if already in courage, content to in-joy this life, apart from your own expectations and the expectations of those around you? Ask God to wrap you in His love. Take a few moments to sit in His Presence.