I am the cowardly lion friends!
I have found my courage!
Last year, “brave” chose me as my one word and this week as I have reflected on this past year and begun to live into my new one word “embrace,” I have begun to realize that, much like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz, I have had courage all along. I just had to find it! (Good thing I have friends like the wizard, Dorothy, the scarecrow and the tin man who have helped me to find it!)
I am reminded of these words from the movie: “As for you, my fine friend — you’re a victim of disorganized thinking. You are under the unfortunate delusion that simply because you run away from danger, you have no courage. You’re confusing courage with wisdom!” (Wizard of Oz; imdb.com)
Courage and bravery looks different for each and every one of us. Brave is in sharing our story even when that is the last thing we want to do. We simply have to trust God. Brave is in hearing the call to ministry even when you wonder if God knows what God is doing in calling you. Brave is trusting fully and completely in a God who calls us each of us by name, knows the desires of our hearts, and also knows what we need. Because the thing is friends, God is the one who gives us that courage in the first place.
“And that though I am flawed, God is loving me and refining me and reminding me that God in me is where I can place my trust. And that is the place where I find my courage.” (Learning to Be Brave; Annie F. Downs; P.37)
These words speak straight into my heart, because each and every one of us is flawed. Yet God still calls us saints and sinners alike. God claims each and every one of us as God’s beloved children and continues to refine us and remind us that God is the very one we need to place our trust in. Because it is in that very holy sacred place that we find our courage; that we find our brave!
(Also if you missed my 2015 One Word recap post earlier this week, I would love for you to go read it: A Year of Brave)
I am linking up with these lovely ladies today: Holly Barrett and Testimony Tuesday, Jennifer Dukes Lee and Tell His Story, Kelly Balarie and the RaRa linkup and Holley Gerth and Coffee for your Heart:
"Brave is trusting fully and completely in a God who calls us each of us by name, knows the desires of our hearts, and also knows what we need." Yes, yes. Trusting fully is no easy feat, is it?! So, so grateful for a God who empowers us by His Spirit in us to be brave. Looking forward to continuing to "embrace" that truth along with you in 2016. Hugs, dear one.
Tiffany, that line stuck out to me too. Hugs back to you!
Love this! So glad you are embracing your brave! Way to go, girl. Love and hugs.
Thanks Julie! Embracing my brave..I hadn't really thought of it like that. Loves and hugs back to you too!
Embrace the brave YOU!
I will do my best! 🙂
such a great post and a great reminder to us all. Thanks for sharing at Holly's Testimony Tuesday.
Thanks Debbie! Glad you stopped by.
Yes, we find our brave in the presence of God. Loved reading this, Tara! Blessings to you!
Thanks Gayl. Blessings to you as well!
Brave is in sharing our story – I love that! I chose courageous as my word for 2016.
Melissa, it is such a great Brene Brown quote. Courageous is a great word. Fits with my one word from 2015 "brave"
I look forward to reading about your journey with the word 'embrace'!
Thanks Anita!
I loved this post Tara! I just finished reading the Wizard of Oz a chapter a day with my daughter. Thank you for sharing your journey of brave. I hope you have a lovely day!
Thank You! The Wizard of Oz is such a great story. Hope you and your daughter enjoyed it. Hope you have a lovely day too.
Believing in ourself, naming ourself as brave but most of all trusting that God is with us in every moment that requires brave. I keep wondering when "brave" will be my word but not yet. Even after writing about brave for 31 days I am finding times when I don't feel brave. Thank you for your words today and can't wait to hear about the new word "embrace".
Thanks Mary!