COURAGE – the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
“I’m frankly tired of marching. I’m tired of going to jail,” Martin Luther King, Jr. admitted in 1968. “Living every day under the threat of death, I feel discouraged every now and then and feel my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.”
Monday our country celebrates the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. who was assassinated on April 4, 1968 as he stood on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee.
Years ago, I read somewhere that Rev. King and his wife never parted without good words between them because they both knew that at any time his life might be taken by those so against his march for racial justice. So, today when I thought about that, I considered how much courage it took for both of them to step out into every day.
“Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles;
Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.
Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it.
Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?
Expediency asks the question, is it politic?
Vanity asks the question, is it popular?
But conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.
Courage is something we admire in our leaders, especially those who are in the forefront of difficult times in the history of our world or in their own lives. Winston Churchill was England’s Prime Minister when things looked very dark for them during World War II, but even at those times when all seemed lost, he helped the English citizens face every day with courage.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ~Winston Churchill
Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady during some hard years for our country, first during the Great Depression and then as our nation went to war.
“Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt
“Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion no matter where it is exercised.” ~Walt Disney
Courage is necessary for our leaders, but also for each of us as we go through our daily lives. Not many of us face the challenges that Martin Luther King Jr. or Winston Churchill faced, but we can still face times and days that need courage. At times they are big challenges and other times challenges that aren’t life threatening but still can be daunting.
Maybe a young child having to let go of his or her mother’s hand and walk into school for the first time. Maybe an older child walking into school when they feel alone and friendless. Maybe a parent helping a child through a serious illness and each day having to put on a courageous face. Maybe a daughter or son helping an elderly parent traverse those last years where their steps or thinking ability is faltering. Maybe a Christian standing up for what he or she believes. Maybe homeowners looking at their houses in splinters after a tornado or seeing flood waters wash away a life’s accumulation of memories and wondering what to do. Maybe a teenager getting behind the wheel to learn to drive or his mother and father in the passenger seat ready to undertake that teaching. Maybe a preacher standing behind a pulpit for the first time. Maybe a writer writing the first sentence of a novel. Maybe a singer stepping up to the microphone.
So many times in our everyday lives, whether we are famous leaders or simply holding down our corner of the world, we face situations where we need an extra burst of courage.
And sometimes we do mess up. The first sentence doesn’t work. The whole novel doesn’t work, doesn’t find readers. The singer forgets her words. The teenager runs into a ditch. That’s when we have to pull up the courage not to give up. To write another novel. Sing another song. Get pulled out of the ditch and drive on. Hold onto the daily courage to live our lives the best we can.
We can always look to the Lord to find courage if we’re walking in His way. The Bible has many stories and verses to inspire courage. I like this verse from the book of Joshua.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (New King James version
Have you ever faced a challenge in your life – whether big or small – that took courage?
Comments 16
Thank you for this post on Courage, Ann! It is really, really good — and the comments from your readers also were very inspirational. It’s such a blessing to be a part of this group!!
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And I’m glad you’re here to add your blessings and comments. Thanks, Roberta.
Growing up with an alcoholic father had many challenges and hurts that I really don’t want to write here.
Going through a divorce after 27 years of marriage and starting over, losing my job while in the middle of that divorce, moving 3 hours away from all my family to a new city and job was so outside my comfort zone but what I had to do to survive. Not sure that was courage but necessity. God was with me through it all…if he hadn’t been I don’t know where I would be. Bless you Ann for always reminding me how good God is through your words. God is good!
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Necessity or not, Pamela, each day of those struggles and unhappy challenges took courage. The ability to come out of those hard times and as you say, survive took courage. I’m so glad you felt God walking beside you all the way and giving you the courage to keep living.
Yes, several times, but the hardest was when I moved with my children with just the clothes on our backs over 900 miles away to escape an abusive marriage.
Blessings
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That had to take a lot of courage, Lucy, but sounds as if you did what had to be done for yourself and your children.
When I was 11 I had open heart surgery to repair a restricted aorta. Back then in 1960 this was major surgery. I was cut open from the middle of my breastbone to the middle of my back. I still have the scar 62 years later. I remember how scared I was the day of the surgery but I think it was my Mom and Daddy who were the courageous ones. They had to make the decision for me to have the surgery even though there was only a 50/50 chance that i would survive it. As you can see God brought us all through it.
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That did require some great courage and trust in the Lord to make that decision, Linda. I can’t imagine how hard that had to be for them, and of course, the surgery was a drastic one for a little girl to face. But it sounds as if you had to have the surgery to have a chance for a healthy life. So glad the surgery went well and you and your parents had that courage when it was needed. I have no doubt many prayers were going up from your parents at that time.
Most definitely. So many things take courage, and you gave some great examples. We become so comfortable in our ” boxes” that sometimes it takes courage, or a kick in the pants, to step outside that box. But always, even when we are way outside our comfort zone, the Lord is right beside us. Hallelujah for that! 😊
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It is often hard to do something difficult or different, Robin. Often people give up on dreams because they are afraid of failing or looking silly or finding out they need to set new goals. Strong characters are grown as we bounce through the bumps of life.
Loved that inspiring and beautifully written tribute to MLK and the encouragement it brought to me today. Thanks for lifting me up by your words and thoughts
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So glad you liked my thoughts today, Amy. Thank you so much for letting me know that. Very encouraging for the next time I sit down to share new thoughts on my blog.
Thank you, Ann!
My Granddad always ended his letters with Joshua 1: 8 & 9 as his basis for writing these words: “Children, Grandchildren, be strong and courageous in the Lord!”
I have one of his letters on a memo board that’s been there for years and will continue to be as a reminder of one of the most important ingredients in being an overcomer…courage to believe…courage to act upon what seems impossible but through faith in God and declaring His Word that is Truth…all things are possible! PTL!
Thank you for this wonderful tribute on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day whose life continues to be an example of courage to us today to stand up for what is right no matter the cost.
God bless you & yours!
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I love that, Connie. What a great thing for your granddad to do for his children and grandchildren – to assure them of the need for courage and to let them know where to find that courage when it was needed.
Sometimes it is hard to do what’s right if we, as Robin said, have to step out of our comfortable boxes. I need to save those words from your grandfather’s letter. Courage to believe and knowing with God all things are possible.
Lots of things come to mind that took courage for me , facing cancer, learning to drive in cities .I kinda did this one by accident, My husband and I were going to San Antonio a few years ago and we were closer to the city than I realized.I ended up driving in San Antonio, after that I started driving in other cities and have drove in several cities since then.I actually like it now, as long as my husband is my navigator.
Burying a baby and watching my daughter and son-in- law go through the death of their baby.
Some of these aren’t courageous though because it wasn’t chosen, just something to endure.
Martin Luther King was truly courageous, he could have hid in the shadows and chose not to. He was a very good and brave man.
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I thought of you when I asked about facing things with courage, Lisa. And whether a thing is chosen or simply happens in life, courage is still needed to get through those hard times. Facing the treatment and the fight of conquering cancer certainly takes courage and fortitude. But I would think losing a child might take the most courage of all to keep going and doing what had to be done.