Sufficient Courage
"Sufficient courage" Philippians 1:20 (NIV)
I was recently re-reading the book of Philippians when two words literally jumped off of the page and into my heart. Those two words-"sufficient courage"- are found in the first chapter of Philippians, a letter written by the Apostle Paul when he was chained and confined in a Roman prison. I don't know about you, but I've always considered Paul as one of the bravest characters found any where in the Bible. Reading through the book of Acts, Paul makes at least five important and impassioned defenses of the Gospel. His high-profile audiences included the Jewish Sanhedrin, kings, governors, royal courts and civic authorities. but he never backed down in fear or shame. Yet in his letter to the church at Philippi Paul writes, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:20-21)
The word "sufficient" means "enough; adequate; as much as needed." My favorite definition for "courage" comes from John Croyle, founder of the Big Oak Ranch. Croyle says that "Courage is not the absence of fear, but conquers fear." In other words, courage overcomes our fear and acts anyway in spite of whatever fear may exist. Setting Paul's words in context, the Apostle was praying for enough courage to face life in prison and chains or enough courage to face death as a martyr for his faith in Christ. He wasn't sure what would happen, life or death. In fact Paul writes, "Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel." (Philippians 1:27) Paul knew well the sufficiency of God's grace (2 Cor. 12:9), but he prays for the sufficiency of courage.
Over the last two weeks Paul's words - sufficient courage- keep coming to my mind and heart as I've considered our current circumstances. His words 'sufficient courage" have become my quick dart prayers for:
Healthcare workers on the front lines of the Covid 19 battle
Parents sending their children back into school classrooms and college campuses
Teachers returning to school classrooms
Students returning to school or campus classrooms
Parents who choose to home school their children
Coaches and players returning to athletics
Leaders across the country at every level: government, business, community, church, education and healthcare
Caregivers for aging parents and special needs children
Those who have lost jobs and those who are beginning new jobs
Those planning weddings and funerals in our "new normal" of fear and Covid
"Sufficient courage" has also been my prayer for less important concerns such as blog photo shoots and new beginnings. I keep finding myself taking deep breaths and whispering a prayer for "sufficient courage" for circumstances outside my comfort zone.
While the current pandemic is unprecedented in our lifetime, we are certainly not the first generation to face foreign circumstances and uncertain outcomes. One of my favorite hymns God of Grace and God of Glory was written in 1930 while the United States was in the throes of the Great Depression and in between two World Wars. Those three events shaped the "hour" and "days" that provide the context for this great hymn.
God of grace and God of glory
On thy people pour thy power;
Crown the ancient church's story;
Bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo! the hosts of evil round us,
Scorn they Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to love and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days
For the living of these days.
Wherever we are today, whatever our fears and circumstances, may we all pray for and eagerly expect God's provision of sufficient courage for the facing of this hour and the living of these days.
Sufficient courage from the God of all grace and all glory!
Amen and Amen,
Donna