Being Brave
This morning I dropped my grandkids off at Summer Camp. It is at the Pre-School the two younger ones go to and even though the bigs go there to pick them up every day when they get out of school, it is an entirely different thing when you are the one being left. They may be familiar with the building and know some faces, but who will be their teacher? Will they like her? Will she like them? What other kids my age will be there? Will I find a friend or be left out? After tallking this through on the drive, we prayed.
I found myself praying for them to be brave and courageous and to remember what God said to Joshua.
“I will you every place where you set your foot,”
”I will never leave you or forsake you.”
”Be strong and courageous.”
Joshua 1:3,5b,6a
What is it about starting new things that can have us shaking in our boots? The uncertainity of what it will look like? Will I be good at it? Fail? Succeed? Be made fun of? Insecurity? Past experinces? Yes! And probably many more.
I remember when I taught Pre-K and we started a new memory verse or any new skill, I would remind them that when we learn anything new we will make mistakes and that’s OK. We don’t have to be an expert the first time we try something.
Why do we not have that same grace for ourselves? Or for others who are being brave and stepping out into something new?
Can you picture the last time you stepped into something new and unknown and felt uncertain at best?
Oh my goodeness, there have been so many times I have felt that way:
Getting married - I had to live with a boy
Having kids - I had no idea how what to expect or if I could handle it
Ywam - watching my family drive away and having to turn, walk in alone and meet all new people
Working - the first of so many experiences
Drama - could I act that out, could I do that dance, could I choregraph and direct
Moving - starting all over, again and again and again and again
Bible teaching - who wants to fail at that
Blog - would anyone want to read my words
But after awhile we get used to the weight of what we’re walking into and get settled in to expectations and goals.
We have the confidence of knowing and that makes a huge difference.
I know for me, I tend to think it all depends on me to figure it out and not screw up. Recently, I started training to be a coach for FASTerWay to Fat Loss, an online health and fitness organization. It never entered my mind that I would do that. I’ve had a lot of new things to learn and have felt overwhelmed and insecure about a lot of it.
When I remember Joshua and God’s words to him, I think of all the situations that people have walked through.
And I think of Mary who had to walk out being pregnant and unmarried and carrying God’s Son. There is no guide for that one.
And I think of Moses who had to go back to Egypt and face his past and walk into his future.
Who do you think of?
“I will give you every place where you set your foot”
Every. Place.
There is no excepts here.
Wherever I walk, God is WITH me.
I don’t have to face making a Google Sheet or creating custom macros alone.
”I will never leave you or forsake you.”
What an amazing promise to cling to in those most overwhelming or scariest moments!
No matter what happens, He will never turn His back on me.
He will always believe in me.
He sticks. The End. Period. Turn your head and He’s there!
”Be strong and courageous.”
Be strong: prevail, to fasten upon, take hold of, to seize, conquer
When God says to take hold of something or go conquer that or prevail over this, I don’t think He means for us to dial it in and say we tried. We need to go after it with the gusto of a pigeon with a French Fry.
and courageous: strong, bold, alert, determined
I need to walk into these situations alert to what’s happening and what God is saying.
Am I determined and do my best to learn, to grow, to make mistakes, to be humble and ask questions or am I schleping in already defeated and not really trying, assuming it’s not going to work out anyway?
How would you describe how you walk into those opportunities?
What can you do to be strong and courageous?
Do you have a hard time believing that God is really with you and is never leaving. No matter how you perform - If you succeed or fail?
Every season has a lesson. This season I am learning to not rely on my strengths or put too much emphasis on my weaknesses. I am learning that saying yes, while scary, can be exciting and take you places you only thought of. I am learning another depth - another layer of God’s faithfulness to me and His love for me.
Be brave and courgeous today knowing you are not alone. I’m cheering you on! You can do it!!!!!
Have the most amazing day!
All My Love ~
Jodi
P.S. Update on the grandkiddos: “Best day ever!” ~ The grandkids after their first day! Be brave, Love, be brave!
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