Strong. Brave. Courageous.

“You’re such a strong woman, Becky.” 

“You’re just so brave.” 

“You have so much courage.” 

 My response is usually snarky; something like, “If I knew waking up each morning and doing another day would qualify me as ________, I would’ve done this sooner...” My reply fades to a mumble and a meek smile because the ending of the sentence is not something I want to say or what others want to hear. (I told you my stories were going to be raw and vulnerable.) 

When I was teaching, I worked with a beautiful Christian teacher who said a phrase to our first graders when they were dealing with an “owie” or frustration. “You get to be strong, brave, and courageous now.” Hmmm. Was that a tool for me to use later? 

 In the Old Testament, Joshua is left to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land across the Jordan River after Moses dies. The Lord said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, emphasis mine). Moses had said the same words to the people in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (emphasis mine). Hmmm. My teacher friend was on to something. 

 Much later in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul talks about the thorn in his flesh to keep him humble. He asks the Lord to take the thorn from him, but the Lord says to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9, emphasis mine). 

 There is no denying my weakness. Losing my husband and sons knocked the breath out of me and still does some days. There are new losses to grieve when milestones are reached by my sons’ friends, when I become a grandma again without “Pops,” when the turn of the calendar reveals birthdays or anniversaries that mark the passing of time. My weakness has forced a complete dependence on the Lord on many days, although it should be every day. If His power is made perfect in my weakness, then strong, brave, and courageous may be what other people see. 

 I think what I’m supposed to put together here in the simplest of terms is this: 

God put a truth in my heart long ago through a friend and kids, one of my favorite combinations. That truth is confirmed in scripture. 

 My guys died. I “get” to be strong, brave, and courageous now.

 For real? Yes...

 I don’t need to be afraid because God is with me and will never forsake me. His grace is sufficient for me, and His power is made perfect in my weakness. I can walk through life strong, brave, and courageous and maybe even feel that way sometimes all because the Lord tells me so. I just need the faith to trust and believe. 

 The truths in scripture are there for all of us. 😉