August 16, 2024
" Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.
- Isaiah 54:4-5 (NKJV)
To have courage is to do something that frightens one or to have strength in the face of adversity. In a state of barrenness, there is a high tendency to be scared – our self-esteems may be lowered due to various disappointments and heart breaks. However, God has commanded that we should not fear as we will not be disgraced or be put to shame.
In verse 4 of our referenced text, God has promised us that we will not remember the reproach of our widowhood because He, in His infinite mercy, has guaranteed that we will be partakers of a bountiful harvest regardless of what our present situation may look like.
The first basis for courage is God’s commitment to us.
The truth is, having courage is not easy. We cannot do it by ourselves which is why we have the opportunity as children of God to leverage the three Cs – Commitment, Covenant and Compassion.
The first basis for courage is God’s commitment to us. Our maker is our husband - likening our relationship to a marriage which can be considered as the highest form of commitment. He also betroths us in faithfulness and loving kindness. This means that we are in partnership with a faithful God and should not be afraid.
God’s covenant to us is another basis of courage because He has a covenant that He will not destroy us regardless of our shortcomings. We are in a contract with God to be under His covering—so we can have courage to stand.
The third basis is the compassion God has towards us. God is merciful and understands the pain we go through on earth. Being an omnipresent God means that He bears witness to our struggles and knows how best to comfort us.
Take a stance of courage today regarding difficulties you might be facing. Even when situations or conditions seem dry or barren, you can act with courage, based on God’s commitment to you, His covenant with you, and His compassion towards you. As you do this, watch God turn things around for your good.
Song of Worship
Great is your mercy towards me
Your loving kindness towards me
Your tender mercies I see day after day – 2x
Song Great is Your Mercy by Donnie McClurkin
Prayer - Dear Lord, give me the courage to approach adversities without fear. Let me feel Your presence in my darkest moments and may I experience Your commitment and compassion all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible in 1 year: Psalms 97-99; Romans 16
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