July 14, 2010 in Courage,Family,Kids,Life,Trust with 47 Comments

Living Courageously

A few weeks ago we were invited to some friends’ house to go blobbing. We had such a blast. I am not sure if you know what a blob is…it is like a huge pillow that floats on water. When we arrived, my 7-year old son Isaiah wanted to do this! There was a problem…you had to climb up a ladder to a 20 foot platform, jump down onto the blob, crawling to the end of the blob, only to have someone heavier than you jump off the same platform and send you launching into the air.

Isaiah was scared. As he came to the end of the platform, he was paralyzed.

So often in my relationship with God, I am the same way. I sense God calling me to a new level of trust; I know God is asking me to step out in a way that stretches me; I hear God’s voice prompting me to risk something I’ve never been willing to risk…and I’m all about it. Until its time to jump…then I’m paralyzed. I am so scared, so fearful, I can’t move.

I wonder how how many divine moments I’ve surrendered because of fear. Most of my life is lived between faith and fear. When things are going well; I have money in the bank; my marriage is going well; ministry is fulfilling; my kids are doing well; my friendships are deep and meaningful…I am filled with faith. Then there is financial uncertainty; relational conflict; ministry difficulty; an unknown outcome to a personal challenge…my heart is filled with fear. Most of our life is lived in the gap between faith and fear.

Can I share with you what I shared with my 7-year old son? Courage isn’t the absence of fear. Courage is overcoming your fear with faith. Courage is pushing through your fear and experiencing faith in greater ways than before.

Maybe today you are standing on the ledge in an area of your life and God is asking you to jump…to trust. But you are scared; you are fearful; you are paralyzed. Life is best lived courageously.

What area of your life do feel like God is asking you to be courageous?

(By the way, enjoy the video of my son being blobbed!)

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  • anewcreation

    Hi Justin and Trisha,

    It is uncanny how similar the content of this post and my penultimate post are. The image of the jump, and being paralyzed as God is asking us to risk/sacrifice something new, it is all there.

    In answer to your question here, please read my post: Whose is the kingdom?, Whose is the power?. Whose is the glory?. Your comments or feedback would be appreciated!

    Blessings,

    Mercedes
    My recent post THE SPIRIT OF THE MIGHTY CHRISTIAN WARRIOR

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thanks Mercedes…I'll check out your post.

  • anewcreation

    Hi Justin and Trisha,

    It is uncanny how similar the content of this post and my penultimate post are. The image of the jump, and being paralyzed as God is asking us to risk/sacrifice something new, it is all there.

    In answer to your question here, please read my post: Whose is the kingdom?, Whose is the power?. Whose is the glory?. Your comments or feedback would be appreciated!

    Blessings,

    Mercedes
    My recent post THE SPIRIT OF THE MIGHTY CHRISTIAN WARRIOR

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thanks Mercedes…I'll check out your post.

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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/ffandhb Chrissy

    Wow, is this post ever so timely, Justin! There is actually something… God was really working on me about it as I was driving to work… but I'm soooooo scared. He is definitely asking me to jump from this ledge, but I don't think I can do it. It's not that I don't trust Him. I know with absolute certainty that He'll get me through it. No, my fear come from knowing there's a certain amount of pain that's going to come from jumping off that ledge, and I just want to avoid that pain. I guess I'm a coward that way.
    My recent post Are You A Mary or Martha

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Chrissy…sometimes the fear of knowing is more intimidating than the fear of not knowing.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/ffandhb Chrissy

    Wow, is this post ever so timely, Justin! There is actually something… God was really working on me about it as I was driving to work… but I'm soooooo scared. He is definitely asking me to jump from this ledge, but I don't think I can do it. It's not that I don't trust Him. I know with absolute certainty that He'll get me through it. No, my fear come from knowing there's a certain amount of pain that's going to come from jumping off that ledge, and I just want to avoid that pain. I guess I'm a coward that way.
    My recent post Are You A Mary or Martha

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Chrissy…sometimes the fear of knowing is more intimidating than the fear of not knowing.

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/morgsmsquared Morgan

    I still crack up at that video!! So awesome!

    Thank you so much for this post and your constant honesty. It's so refreshing to know that even pastors have struggles. I don't think you could have said it any better "Most of our life is lived in the gap between faith and fear."

    For me, God is asking me to live courageously in Him. To love and trust Him in all aspects of my life despite the unknown outcome. He's got things taken care of and all He asks is that I take hold of His hand and follow obediently and patiently, serving God and his people along the way.

    My recent post Forgiven…

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thank you Morgan. Praying you live courageously!

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/morgsmsquared Morgan

    I still crack up at that video!! So awesome!

    Thank you so much for this post and your constant honesty. It's so refreshing to know that even pastors have struggles. I don't think you could have said it any better "Most of our life is lived in the gap between faith and fear."

    For me, God is asking me to live courageously in Him. To love and trust Him in all aspects of my life despite the unknown outcome. He's got things taken care of and all He asks is that I take hold of His hand and follow obediently and patiently, serving God and his people along the way.

    My recent post Forgiven…

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thank you Morgan. Praying you live courageously!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JasonWert JasonWert

    I love that video. I SO want to do that. Great post, man.
    My recent post TPWC Day 13- My peace I give to you

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thanks Jason!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JasonWert JasonWert

    I love that video. I SO want to do that. Great post, man.
    My recent post TPWC Day 13- My peace I give to you

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thanks Jason!

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  • http://www.anewlifehartz.blogspot.com Lindsey @ A New Life

    My husband and I were just talking about this at lunch (we've graduated from the fixing holes/landscaping/origami conversations!) You know, I wouldn't have described me as fearful over some decisions we need to make; but this really made me think:

    "Courage is overcoming your fear with faith. Courage is pushing through your fear and experiencing faith in greater ways than before."

    Am I fearful that God has not already paved the way for the changes He knows is needed in our lives? No.

    Am I still fearful of the change and what that means for us? Yes.

    I can't wrap my mind around walking away from so many things (good and bad), truly making the old gone and the new here. We've lived in a sort of suspended, indecisive state for so long that it has become a place of comfort.

    So I like what you said; that it is ok to feel that way, but we have to press on and not choose to be stuck here.

    Blackaby's study "Experiencing God" talks about the steps God takes to call someone…(paraphrasing)

    1. God is always at work around you
    2. God pursues a love relationship with you
    3. God invites you to become involved with Him and His work
    4. God speaks through the Holy Spirit, Word, etc to confirm what He is calling you too
    5. God's invitation for you always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action
    6. You must make major life adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing
    7. You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work in you.

    I'm totally stuck right now between the faith and action part of 5 and the reality of moving forward part of 6.

    Praying through that now.

    All seriousness aside, that blob thing looks AWESOME! So fun :-)

    My recent post The God of Second Chances and Giveaway-

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Experiencing God was THE book that prompted us to start the church in Indy. Praying for you guys!

  • http://www.anewlifehartz.blogspot.com Lindsey @ A New Life

    My husband and I were just talking about this at lunch (we've graduated from the fixing holes/landscaping/origami conversations!) You know, I wouldn't have described me as fearful over some decisions we need to make; but this really made me think:

    "Courage is overcoming your fear with faith. Courage is pushing through your fear and experiencing faith in greater ways than before."

    Am I fearful that God has not already paved the way for the changes He knows is needed in our lives? No.

    Am I still fearful of the change and what that means for us? Yes.

    I can't wrap my mind around walking away from so many things (good and bad), truly making the old gone and the new here. We've lived in a sort of suspended, indecisive state for so long that it has become a place of comfort.

    So I like what you said; that it is ok to feel that way, but we have to press on and not choose to be stuck here.

    Blackaby's study "Experiencing God" talks about the steps God takes to call someone…(paraphrasing)

    1. God is always at work around you
    2. God pursues a love relationship with you
    3. God invites you to become involved with Him and His work
    4. God speaks through the Holy Spirit, Word, etc to confirm what He is calling you too
    5. God's invitation for you always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action
    6. You must make major life adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing
    7. You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work in you.

    I'm totally stuck right now between the faith and action part of 5 and the reality of moving forward part of 6.

    Praying through that now.

    All seriousness aside, that blob thing looks AWESOME! So fun :-)

    My recent post The God of Second Chances and Giveaway-

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Experiencing God was THE book that prompted us to start the church in Indy. Praying for you guys!

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  • Melissa Irwin

    Great statements about courage. Quotable. You should be writing a book!
    My recent post What if YOU were a teenager- WITHOUT PARENTS- and ON THE STREETS

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thank you Melissa…We are writing a book :)

  • Melissa Irwin

    Great statements about courage. Quotable. You should be writing a book!
    My recent post What if YOU were a teenager- WITHOUT PARENTS- and ON THE STREETS

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thank you Melissa…We are writing a book :)

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  • http://www.anotherturnofthepage.com nikkie

    courage, every day.

    especially in the wake of a marriage left in ruins.

    and God honors the courage we exhibit by doing the next thing as we stare fear straight in the face.

    great post, guys.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      I am so sorry Nikkie…praying for you.

  • http://www.anotherturnofthepage.com nikkie

    courage, every day.

    especially in the wake of a marriage left in ruins.

    and God honors the courage we exhibit by doing the next thing as we stare fear straight in the face.

    great post, guys.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      I am so sorry Nikkie…praying for you.

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  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/jennyrain JennyRain

    that looks like SO much fun – the blobbing part.

    fear – not so much. I struggle with new levels of trust. I think I rename the concept "trust" so I don't fear it so much :)
    My recent post The Partnership of Healing

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/jennyrain JennyRain

    that looks like SO much fun – the blobbing part.

    fear – not so much. I struggle with new levels of trust. I think I rename the concept "trust" so I don't fear it so much :)
    My recent post The Partnership of Healing

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