6 ways your courage toward fulfilling your responsibility can be tested
- When we seek to strive for the best we can become:
14 – For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
15 – Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16 – Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. (Esther chapter 4 verses 14 to 16)
Our courage will be tested on the path to become better. The process to become better is painful. Situations are not made to make us, we are to make them. Circumstances are not to define us, we are to redefine circumstances through our actions. Certain things are made to lay go so that we can become all we can be. This demands being courage.
- When what we believe in and once expressed is challenged:
26 – And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
27 – And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28 – And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29 – And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel chapter 17 verses 26 to 29)
Life is a battle field, whenever you are willing to stand up for what you believe, there is also someone who will disbelieve you. You will always encounter conflicts from those with opposite view of what you believe as you go about expressing yourself. You need courage so never be discouraged. You don’t just need to accept other people’s option, you need to stand on your conviction, what you believe, and that demands courage.
- When change is needed in our attitude, behavior and character:
34 – And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 – And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 – Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 – David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. (1 Samuel chapter 17 verses 34 to 37)
We all have area of weakness we daily desire to improve. That demands for action, which demands for courage. You can easily improve in an area of strength, but it is difficult in an area of weakness. Courage is highly demanded in the area of weakness to improve better.
- When learning and growing will reveal our weakness:
39 – And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
40 – And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
41 – And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42 – And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
43 – And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 1 Samuel chapter 39 to 43)
No one is a perfect being. It is in the process of learning, our weakness is revealed so that we can make it right. We are so afraid to fail while striving to learn and grow in an area of weakness, so that we will not look foolish. Fulfilling you responsibility demands you accept the truth about who you are, make amendment and be able to accomplish your course. Pay the price to improve towards self-development, it will pay you in the nearest future.
- Whenever we are confronted with obstacle to our progress:
44 – And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45 – Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 – This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 – And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands. (1 Samuel chapter 17 verses 44 to 47)
Issues are meant to surface as we go about the process to accomplish our responsibility. It needs courage to still stay on the track and conquer.
- When the going gets tougher for our advancement
48 – And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49 – And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
50 – So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 – Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. (1 Samuel 48 to 51)
There are when things will become tougher than it were and that is the vent of our advancement. We need courage to keep pressing on and forward till we become champions.
- When we treat people kindly and others treat us badly:
6 – And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7 – And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 – And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? (1 Samuel 6 to 8)
It takes courage to continue to do good when people you are so kind to never appreciate your kindly gesture.
Conclusion
Things to discourage might emerge, but all we need to do is to be courageous. Always be brave in the pursuit and accomplishing of your responsibility. There is nothing new under the sun. You need to be brave, have faith and keep moving forward. It is the courage on the inside that is displayed on the outside. You have to make a decision. Courage grows from within like other quality characters. You need to be courageous if you must conquer conflict, stress, crisis and confession on the path to fulfill your responsibility and get it accomplished.
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