The Courage That Comes From Knowing God Is on Your Side
I absolutely adore the Hallmark series, When Calls the Heart. It has all the things that make my heart happy: romance, adventure, suspense, and humor. And, it doesn’t hurt that the story revolves around a teacher who dreams of becoming a writer (familiar story, huh?).
Unfortunately, we don’t have cable, so I have to wait until Netflix updates their episode list before I can watch the newest episodes of When Calls the Heart. This happened just a couple of weeks ago, and sadly, I’ve already finished watching the entire season, but I tell you, it was great.
One of my favorite episodes was the one where two new boys join the school. Raised by their single father who was a workaholic, the boys were rude, rowdy and all-around bullies. After these young boys had pulled the arm off her favorite stuffed bear, young Opal (another student in Miss Thatcher’s class) decided she didn’t want to go to school anymore. When her teacher questioned her sudden dislike for school, Opal admitted she was scared of the new boys. “They’re bigger than I am,” she cried. “And I’m bigger than they are,” Miss Thatcher replied, finally convincing Opal to re-join the class.
Did anyone else feel the glory bumps? I imagine the same conversation taking place between God and myself. I argue and excuse my behavior, mistrust or failure to do something because I’m afraid of the “bullies.” Be it circumstances, sickness, difficulties, people or even self-doubt, the “bullies” are so much bigger than I am. They hover over me like giants, taunting me with their mean-spirited nature and overwhelming presence. So, I shrink back, pull away, do whatever it takes to escape the “bullies.” After all, they’re too big for me to fight.
But that’s when God reminds me that even though the “bullies” may be bigger than I am, He is bigger than they are. He towers over them all. He is the Most High. The mightiest. The strongest. The biggest. The greatest. The most powerful. There is nothing He can’t do, and no “bully” He can’t defeat. And best of all, He’s on my side. I don’t have to face the “bullies” alone, and neither do you.
God is with you and for you, and there is no problem He cannot solve. Lean on Him. Trust Him. Take your eyes off the “bullies” and place them on God where they belong. Only then will you see that the “bullies” don’t stand a chance, and you’ll have the courage to continue in the work of the Lord.
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”