Are you courageous?

Kumar Vijjeswarapu

Being courageous and having courage is one of the beautiful gifts that God has given to each one of us.  Why do we need courage? Courage is the greatest weapon that God has given to us to use it against fear.  He has not only given us the weapon of courage but also, He showed us how to use it. Fear is a very common thing that every one of us will face in this journey of life. It comes in many shapes and sizes. To face the fear, we need courage. Time and time again the Bible encourages us not to be afraid but to trust in the Lord. Being a young man or a woman, how does this courage affect your life?  Every time you face a challenge, take it as a stepping-stone for success. To do well in your studies, job or business, you need courage.  In other words, every time you face a challenge, you need courage to face it.  In the book of Joshua Ch 1, the bible clearly shows us how important it is to have courage.  Here, God commanded Joshua over and over again, to have courage and not be afraid. The result of it, they were able to enter into the Promised Land.  If you look in the book of Daniel, the 3 young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not bow down before the image that king Nebuchadnezzar had made but rather courageously told the king “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand.” So, where did they get their courage? Their courage came by their trust in the Lord. God is the one who gives you the courage. As you grow in the Lord and become strong in His faith, you will have more courage because you know that God is in control of your life. If you are facing any challenge in your life today, give it to the Lord. He is stronger, powerful, and mightier than you even think or imagine. When God is on our side, who can be against us? Your challenges today may be stepping stones for the blessings that are coming in your way. You may be very close to enter into the Promised Land by the grace of God. So don’t give up. Be COURAGEOUS. Stay in the Lord. Walk in His ways along with Him.  You don’t have to fear if you are with Him. Because He loves you and He cares for you.