Take Courage, Dear Heart
Another year has come and passed us by in the blink of an eye. As we begin 2019, I always like to reflect on the previous year with some questions and pray about how God would have me to step into the new year and choose a word of the year.
If you read my blog last year, then you know my word of the year was Thrive. In difficult circumstances or during hard moments, I found myself asking the question, how can I thrive in this moment, despite my circumstances? How would God still cause me to find joy and push forward?
As I thought back on 2018 and prayed about 2019, one worship song stuck out to me, “Take Courage” by Bethel. The beginning is what draws me in:
“Slow down take time
Breathe in He said
He’d reveal what’s to come
The thoughts in His mind
Always higher than mine
And He’ll reveal all to come
Chorus
Take courage my heart, stay steadfast my soul
He’s in the waiting, He’s in the waiting
Hold onto your hope, as your triumph unfolds
He’s never failing, He’s never failing”
I find myself in a season of waiting, waiting for my career to develop, waiting for a husband, waiting for so much. Last year, I found myself asking the question, “What’s next, Lord, what do you have for me?” As I thrived in difficult circumstances, I also found myself having to step out in faith and sometimes the hardest thing to do is taking the first step in Courage.
So my word of the year for 2019 is: Courage.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be Strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord” - Psalm 31:24
So as I continue waiting, my prayer is to be courageous in moments of difficulty. To step out in faith and put on my courageous armor of God and do hard things. It takes courage to have difficult conversations, takes courage to go against the grain of your workplace. It takes courage to step away from friendships or relationships that aren’t healthy. It takes courage to speak truth and it also takes courage to wait for what God has next. Do not waste your season of waiting, it takes courage to stay there as well. Maybe your season of waiting, like mine, is about fruit bearing. Job didn’t do anything wrong, but God allowed calamity to bring about life change. Waiting also produces endurance.
“For you know that when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow.” - James 1:3
Dear Lord, my prayer is that we would embrace whatever word you have bestowed upon us for the new year. May we draw closer to an intimate relationship with you and begin to know that we are never lonely with you. May we not lack understanding or compassion as we embrace this new year and step forward these next twelve months.