The Spirit of Courage - Part I
by Dr. John Tetsola

God wants us to be fruitful and productive in life and ministry. Yet disappointments come to stop us in our tracks so that the intention of God never gets manifested. But there is an anointing and an ingredient that when embraced and practiced, will keep us on track and in pursuit of that which God has ordained for our lives. It is called courage. All through Scripture, every time God gave an assignment to a believer, He would often command them not to be afraid but to be courageous, because He was with them.

I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world.
John 16:33 MSG

Courage is a significant ingredient in surviving storms and disappointments in life. A man without courage in trying times is a man that’s easily overcome by the storms of life. What are storms? We can see from the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan that in the natural, storms are destructive and heart-wrenching calamities. But spiritually, storms are translated into the trials and disappointments that the enemy brings into our lives to destroy our pursuit so that God’s purpose is never fulfilled. But in spite of the disheartening storms encountered in this life, if you would take heart and activate the spirit of courage, God will strengthen your heart to endure.

WHAT IS THE SPIRIT OF COURAGE?

Courage is never the absence of fear. In fact, courageous people entertain fear. Without fear there would never be a need for courage. Every time the enemy attacks, it begins with fear. Fear is the devil’s master key to unlock the passageway of attack. But courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger or pain without being paralyzed by fear. The spirit of courage is the antidote against the spirit of fear. Courage is the presence of fear that’s dominated by bravery in God. It is a quality of heart that’s forged through intimacy with God, which enables one to encounter crisis with an inward resolution that’s not overwhelmed by circumstances. Courage is the practiced knowledge of the strength of God in a believer that dismantles the fear of accomplishing God’s purpose.

Trouble and tragedy have no favorites. God makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45). As Christians, we know that in this world we will continue to experience difficulties, but we take heart because Christ has already conquered the world (Jn. 6:33). We know that tough times don’t last, but courageous people do. Therefore, when we experience flat tires on the highways of our pursuit, we’re able to change them by activating the spirit of courage.