Courage Looks Like Love

“And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God--my God--will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”

1 Chronicles 28:20

It was General George S. Patton who once said, “Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.” Because I have been asked more than once this past week to pray for someone who needs courage I thought I would do well to share some thoughts on courage with the hope of strengthening you. Those who are wanting prayer for courage have shared publicly that the stress and strain of all the needs that exist in their lives coupled with all the conflicting information being offered regarding the coronavirus is not empowering but immobilizing them and their loved ones as life to them becomes less certain. In life most people rarely regret the risk they took. What they do always regret are opportunities they missed. The difference is often times a lack of courage.


And just as Solomon needed the exhortation of his father to remember the faithfulness of God, we each have an opportunity today to encourage one another and strengthen ourselves in the process. Where does one get courage you might be thinking to yourself? Simply, by calling to mind God’s Word which reminds us in places like 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 1 John 4:8 takes it even further when the apostle writes, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” God’s love is where our courage comes from.

You have heard the expression that love conquers all and its true. Love is the most powerful force in all the universe for the simple fact, God is love! Keep that in mind today if you find yourself in a battle between courage and fear. Draw close to God knowing He loves you and cares about you an He will provide all the strength you need to face the day! Courage is a byproduct of love. The goal shouldn’t be to set out today to live courageously as much as it should be to set out to be loving and to do everything being motivated and driven by the love of God.

Courage looks a lot like hanging in there. When love is our aim, we will stay when it’s easier to go. When our motive is love we will fight for what’s right and not take flight. Love causes us to stoop and serve where fear causes us to recoil and flee. Love holds on and holds out, while fear gives in and lets go. Yes, loved one, courage is what love looks like when it doesn’t quit.


“My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. He is my God, I praise him; the God of my father, I extol him.”

Exodus 15:2

I LOVE YOU!

Michael Osthimer

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