Courage in Trying Again

Courage is what we need in life. There are times in our life when failure seems to scream at our face. We need courage to face every challenge where we think we fail. Life is not a box of candies where we can pick all the favorite sweets we like. Sometimes life gives us things that are not in our favor. It is in these moments that we need courage. The courage to accept and face the downhill turn of life. The feelings they evoke in us can be unpleasant. But when we patiently allow life to take its natural course, we gain lasting and valuable fruits of life. We learn determination, patience, perseverance, and hard work! Our faith is also strengthened. We develop character. Above all, the greatest concern of God for us is to grow in character. “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 1:5-8.

It is God who gives us courage. They say that all it takes is a positive mindset. But remember that optimism is as good as what our minds are fed with. When our minds are so full of God and His Word, we do not need self-motivated optimism. Anything that is made by self cannot last and cannot remain strong. But when our optimism comes from God, we are not shaken. We become confident. We have the courage no matter how big or grave the challenge is. It is this kind of confidence that enables us to say “I will try again!”. This kind of confidence cannot be generated by self or by pure positivity. It comes from faith in the One who is the source of all things. Just like when Joshua faced a tremendous challenge and responsibility of leading Israel to the promised land, he may had fears and worries. So God had to comfort him saying, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9. When we depend on God, the courage we have is sure whatever the circumstance we face because it is God who goes with us in our battle. When we fall, He is still there with us helping us through it.