Be Brave. Be Courageous.
"May you never discredit all of the subtle ways you've learned to practice courage.”
- Morgan Harper Nichols
Brave.
Courageous.
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you read those words?
For me, the following verse showed up:
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9.
Be brave and courageous. Don't be afraid. Keep going. God is with you. Always and Everywhere.
That's what I hear.
Easier said than done, right?!
I decided to delve into the difference between bravery and courage to see if it could help. I found an interesting post written by Brette Warshaw titled, What's the Difference Between Courage and Bravery? Warshaw sheds light on the meaning of bravery and courage and how we can apply it to our daily lives.
Here are her definitions:
Bravery is the ability to confront something painful or difficult, or dangerous without any fear. It's a quality, not a state of mind; it doesn't need a cause to awaken it. Someone is brave—full stop. To the person who has it, it's effortless; it's eating a caterpillar on the playground because a friend dares you to, without a second thought. It's jumping from the highest diving board without any hesitation.
Courage, on the other hand, is the ability to confront something painful or difficult or dangerous despite any fear. It's not a quality, but a choice; a person feels the fear or pain or danger but chooses to persevere anyway. Unlike bravery, courage is driven by a cause; the courageous person believes that cause is worth standing up and fighting for, despite all the clear reasons not to. It takes a great effort because what's on the other end merits it.
Bravery. The Muscle.
Bravery makes me think about setting out with my family, somewhat unprepared for a hike that ended up being thirteen miles. Our destination was a lake at 12,000 ft. Storm clouds rolled in, and we trudged through the freezing rain. Some might say we were brave to keep going (or just plain stupid). Merriam-Webster dictionary defines brave as having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty: having or showing courage. This definition makes me think of bravery as a muscle. The more we practice being courageous, we become brave.
Courage. The Cause.
Here is an interesting example of being courageous for a cause. I was on the phone with American Airlines, changing a plane ticket. After the call, the representative asked me if I had ten seconds to answer a question. He seemed nervous and hesitant. I was intrigued, so I said yes. I expected a survey or a sales pitch but got something entirely different. The representative asked me if I had accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. WHAT? Yes, I answered, I am grounded in my faith. He said thank you, and that was that. I was dumbfounded. This man risked his job for a cause he believed in so adamantly. Nowadays, he could easily have been fired for taking the time to poll a customer about religious beliefs. He did it anyway. Courageous.
Both bravery and courage are needed for the imperfect journey of life. They are required each and every day. We need the moral fortitude of bravery and perseverance of courage. Fear lurks around every corner, but that's where God comes in. He may command us to be brave and courageous, but He promises to be with us wherever we go. So, in the face of discouragement, remember to be a brave hiker or a courageous airline agent. Be bold. Be confident. Be strong.
I will leave you with this quote from Morgan Harper Nichols' post called, This is Courage. It can be found on her beautiful app, Storyteller. She reminds us to let courage be our teacher.
"I believe courage can be many things for us, and one of those things is our teachers. When we take the leap of faith, we do not know the outcome, but we know we will learn and grow, either way. And perhaps it is through our courage to live and love we mature and grow in wisdom. And slowly, we begin to see that even though a healthy dose of fear kept us alive, it was courage that helped us thrive."
Walking the Journey with You,
Megan Prayer for July:
Dear God,
I want to be brave and courageous, but sometimes it's tough. I let fear and worry get the best of me. I try to go it alone, and I forget to trust in you. Remind me, God, when I have wandered down a dark path, that you are always there to light my way. Help me build muscles of bravery by practicing daily acts of courage. Amen
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