Theme: Courage
Scripture: Isaiah 41:10 The Message Version
Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength. I’ll
help you. I’ll
hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Devotional:
Recently
I was doing some research on support groups for addiction (think: Alcoholics
Anonymous) and I came across the serenity prayer that is often recited in the
beginning of the group meeting. In case you’ve never heard it before, it says:
“God,
grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change
the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I was immediately
struck by the request for courage to change. For me, it seemed odd to need
courage to change but as I reflected more on the idea of change, I found that
it makes complete sense to ask for courage. From my perspective, no one likes to
change or rather no one likes the process of change. Change is hard. For some,
it is difficult to imagine letting go of people, behaviors, or ideas that, at
some point in our lives, were loving, helpful, or beneficial. And it is
fruitful to reflect on how letting go of these things that are less than
advantageous now could serve us better for the future. But, admittedly, it is
scary. In many ways, we have felt protected by those people or circumstances
and the idea of letting it go takes courage. Courage. The root word for courage
is “cor” – the Latin word for heart. How fitting, in fact, is this root of
courage? It certainly takes heart (courage) to recognize the need for change.
It takes heart (courage) to make changes. And it takes heart (courage) to know
that even if making the change is difficult, you will reap the benefits of
listening to your heart and pressing toward change. Think about the last time
you made a difficult but necessary change. Did it involve any heart work? Did
you feel lighter once you committed to the change? The work of change involves
the heart in ways that would be impossible to understand unless you’re willing
to admit the pain, the grief of change. It is not easy letting go of something
or someone that – at one point – felt right or good. But if you listen to your
heart, leaning into courage to make the change, there will be a mending of your
heart that is inevitable. During this Lenten season, seek God’s change for your
life and have courage to know that even through the change God is
with you.
Prayer:
God,
change is hard. Please strengthen my mind to endure the difficulties of change.
Guard my heart and give me the insight to recognize the areas of my life that
need change. If it is a behavior, a relationship or even a way of thinking that
needs to change, please impart wisdom for me to know, eyes for me to see, and
the heart (courage) to make the change. Do not allow me to be overwhelmed by
the process of change but to step into Your guidance that will lead me toward
change. Annihilate the fear that seeks to destroy me in the process of change,
by giving me a divine calm to trust that change is necessary. Send me toward
people who will support my desire to change and remove any person who attempts
to thwart the changes that You are calling for me. Selah.
Reflection Question:
Are there areas of your life that need to be challenged or
changed? What are you holding on to because of your fear of the process of
change?
