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

Last month we learned that courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger or pain without being paralyzed by fear. Courage is never the absence of fear. In fact, courageous people entertain fear. But the spirit of courage is fear that’s dominated by bravery in God. It’s forged through intimacy with God, which enables us to encounter crisis with an inward resolution that’s not overwhelmed by circumstances.

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
John 16:33 AMP

John 16:33 reveals a promise that we are going to have troubles, difficulties and setbacks in pursuit. But God says be courageous and confident; be certain and undaunted. The word undaunted means “not subdued or depressed by fear.” Why? Because Jesus has deprived the world (the circumstances) of its power to harm you.

BUILDING GOD’S WAY

Whenever an assignment was given in Scripture, some level of warfare was to be embarked upon, and some level of obedience was commanded in an area. Therefore, expect storms. Plan for it; build for it. Don’t be surprised when storms come to you or your ministry. But build your church, your finances, your marriage, and your vision with the storm in mind. Don’t build for fair weather, but instead, build for tough times. How do you build for tough times? Jesus tells us how in Matthew 7:24-25.

So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Matthew 7:24-25 AMP

Here Jesus gives us three principles to building right. FIRST, we have to hear God’s Word. This means that we must constantly create an opportunity for the Word of God to have an entrance in our lives. SECOND, we have to value what we hear. To value means to hold in high regard or esteem. Don’t wait until there is a problem for you to start valuing what you hear. Start valuing God’s Word before the storm. THIRD, commit to practice God’s truth in spite of how you feel. The consistency of the practice of God’s truth strengthens the foundation of our belief systems to win over storms.

Everything God builds will stand. We are not storm-free, but we are storm-proof. We can’t insulate ourselves from storms in our own strength, but when we hold on to God during storms, He gives us a building promise: “…And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Mt. 7:25). This building promise guarantees that we’ll be able to stand against the power of the enemy to destroy us. So make courage yours because tough times don’t last, but courageous people do.