Courage at the Edge
“In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” – Psalm 56:11 (NKJV)
My beloved and I stood atop a cliff overlooking a dramatic ocean view with a brilliant rainbow. Wow.
As I contemplated the jagged rocks a hundred feet or more below us, though, I kept a healthy distance from the edge. There were no guard rails, no fencing, no warning signs about danger, just a slippery little path about four feet wide between us and the sheer drop-off.
Getting that close to a deadly fall was challenging because I have a mild fear of heights. My palms were sweaty even though my feet were firmly planted. This was not the spot to stumble or lean too far over!
But my husband and I trusted the guide who had brought us to this point. The young fellow had already led us (and countless others, I imagine) on this scenic hike without incident.
Our guide kept us securely on the path as we hiked back down. At the ocean’s edge, he held my hand firmly in his as we hopped from boulder to boulder amid crashing waves. We were rewarded with another amazing view, some hidden formations etched by the saltwater pounding the cliffs. My beloved and I would never have seen these impressive glimpses of God’s beautiful creation without our guide’s faithful help.
Courage isn’t just a matter of conquering our fears. It’s a product of faith and trust.
You and I trust in lots of things every day. We trust banks to keep our finances in order. We trust pilots and bus drivers to get us to our destinations. We trust pharmacists and doctors with our health.
Unfortunately, we also trust way too much in ourselves. Wealth, youth, strength, looks, smarts…all have a very short shelf life. We think we’re in control of our lives. But we’re not.
When everything is stripped away from us at the brink of despair, where will courage be found? Only in Jesus.
Every time you and I encounter situations that foster anxiety, we must relinquish everything to the Lord in prayer. We won’t have any courage to face our trials until we have faith in God’s purposes and timing.
As we release our fears and worries to Him, He replaces them with His strength, assurance, and peace. We can step forward bravely, knowing that our very best Friend, Jesus, walks beside us every step of the way. He promises to guide us, even as our emotions seesaw up and down. He holds our hands securely in His, with an almighty strength that will not let us go. We can dare to climb with Him.
I probably won’t return to that cliff edge. Been there, done that. But the joy of that experience has stayed with me. Just as I trusted our guide’s judgment and strength, you and I can trust Jesus to help us in anxious moments. We’ll find His courage at every precipice on our journey, and we’ll be rewarded with inspiring views of His amazing handiwork, maybe even with a rainbow.
Questions for Reflection:
Let me ask you this again. When everything is stripped away from us at the brink of despair, where will courage be found?
What will that courage look like for you?
