A few weeks back, somewhere near the end of October, I was at Elevation Church listening to one of the sermons in the series called How To Be Brave. It felt like everything that was being said was specifically for me. Crazy, right? This morning I was going back through my notebook and came across my notes from that day and I thought I would share.
Psalm 112:5-9
“Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.”
Their hearts are stable, steadfast, and secure when they trust in Jesus. They look to him and know that they’ll be fully provided for always. Christ is the cornerstone of their faith.
Numbers 13:17-33 tells of Moses and Aaron sending a group of men to go explore the promised land. It details what the land was like and the people who were living there. Then the men come back from their expedition and give their report. They tell about how wonderful the land is, but then tell how big and scary the people occupying it are. Then Caleb, one of the men, silences them and says in verse 30, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we certainly can do it.” Caleb believed whole-heartedly that despite the news they received that their enemies were big and scary, that he could still give a good report that God would completely provide and take care of them, doing what He promised and giving them the land.
The report you believe is more important than the news you receive. When you start to look at and rely on yourself instead of God’s word, you end up in weakness. We should be the kind of believers that turn bad news into a good report. Having the faith that God is bigger than what we’re facing. I want to give a good report, a God report, a gospel report. The blood of Jesus gives us a better report than any news we get. The story is already written. Jesus goes into our future and gives us a good report about the struggles we’re living in. The enemies we’re running from Jesus has already overcome.
As I’m sitting here typing this, I’m really struggling. Struggling to have a good report despite the bad news I’ve been given. I still haven’t met my financial deadline to be able to leave the country with my squad. I haven’t been able to afford to get my shots yet. Since my car wreck the day before training camp, I haven’t been able to babysit as much and I’m barely able to pay my bills right now. I know that I’m right where Jesus wants me to be and I’m trying so very hard to wait and trust and know that he’ll provide for me. Its so hard. Fundraising and waiting on God’s timing in that is literally the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, and my life hasn’t been a cake-walk.
I’m supposed to be brave, because my hope, trust, joy, everything is in Jesus. Being brave is hard and takes a whole lot of faith. I’m struggling to be brave, feeling very much under attack spiritually lately. The enemy has been wearing down on me a whole lot and I’ve had a hard time finding the encouragement and joy I need to stay afloat.
I find myself easily frustrated with the lack of monetary support coming in. I look at the number of people who read my blog posts and if everyone who read my last post had donated just $10 I would be fully launch funded and then some. I’m frustrated with trying and not seeing any fruit of those efforts. I’ve spoken to businesses and families and individuals about the race and the money that I need to raise and I’ve asked them to support me. Several of them have, but the majority haven’t, even if they said they would. Its hard.
I’ve had lyrics from a couple songs stuck in my head lately. One of those songs is You Make Me Brave by Bethel Music. As the words “You make me brave, you make me brave, you call me out beyond the shore into the waves” float around in my head, I’m reminded of what Jesus has called me to in the World Race. Reminded that he is calling me out to where he is in the waves, to leave behind the shores of my comfort zone. Reminded to be brave, to trust that he won’t let me sink. The other song that I’ve had rambling around my head is Hesitate by Judah & the Lion. “Come as you are, bring me your heart my child. I’ve waited so long for you to become all mine. I won’t give up til I have all your love. Don’t hesitate when I say come away.” Jesus has been reminding me not to hesitate when he calls to me. I’m all his and he is all mine, so why should I hesitate when the full love of Christ is waiting for me with arms open wide? I know this, I really do, yet I forget so easily and need to be reminded daily.
How to be brave: put your faith fully, wholly in Jesus and don’t hesitate when he calls.
