Taking courage

Rhona Cathcart March 26, 2022 0 1

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John 16: 31-33 (NRSVA)

31 Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? 32 The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’

It has to be said the 2020s aren’t shaping up to be anyone’s favourite decade. A global pandemic. War. Increasing environmental damage. It’s been a pretty apocalyptic feeling couple of years. However, if you look at the history of God’s people, there aren’t all that many decades when the apocalypse hasn’t felt like it’s around the corner. The world is beautiful, yes, but it is also troubled. As Christians we are told we can’t run away from those troubles. Years ago, I was very inspired by Gary Haugen’s book Just Courage. Haugen is the founder of an organisation called International Justice Mission and the book shares many stories of members of his team acting with enormous courage. Haugen argues that the principle area of calling for today’s Christian is the call to justice. The book’s central tenet is that God doesn’t call us to be safe, he calls us to be brave.

The situation in Ukraine is a reminder to all of us that we might be called to bravery at any time in our lives. It’s all the more important then for us to remember that bravery isn’t about what we feel, it’s about what we do. Many of the bravest people I know confess to being quivering wrecks inside.

I am not a particularly brave person. So knowing I can draw on the courage of Christ when I need to, is a source of encouragement. The ‘courage’ part of  the word ‘encourage’ comes from the French word for heart. Jesus spoke his words to those he knew would abandon him, but he still offers them the gift of his courage, his heart.

When I draw on Christ for strength, his heart becomes my heart, and my heart, becomes his.

Take courage my friends. He has conquered the world.

PRAYER:

Jesus

You are my heart

My strength

My courage

When I have none of my own,

I can rely on you.

In the watching hours

In the waiting hours

Whenever and wherever the hour comes

You will be there

Offering me your heart,

And taking mine for safekeeping.

Amen.