Quiet Courage

B. Keith Chapman, President & CEO

In the animal kingdom, the lion is often thought of as a symbol of courage because of its fierceness and willingness to protect its territory. Even when faced with danger, a lion’s display of strength and commitment is impressive. While there are some analogies from the lion’s public display of courage that are applicable to each of our lives, most often, we need strength and courage in the more private moments. Bolstering our courage in the smaller everyday failures and disappointments helps us prepare for the larger challenges.

Mary Anne Radmacher once said, “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” This insightful quote is a good reminder that the battles we face from time to time are often won or lost in our quiet time.

It is important to understand that having courage does not mean there is an absence of fear. Fear is real and can be crippling for many. Courage is the willingness to act, or continue to act, despite the presence of fear. Choosing courage over fear in our daily lives strengthens our resolve and gives us confidence for the future. The Book of Joshua tells the story of Joshua’s call to leadership after the death of Moses. Joshua was appointed by God to lead the Israelites to the promise land. Joshua 1:6-7 explains God’s direction to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.”?God had a plan for Joshua, just like He does for each of us. Notice that the passage starts off by saying, “Be strong and courageous,” and the very next sentence says, “Be strong and very courageous.” In fact, just two verses later, in verse nine, it says once again, “This is my command, be strong and courageous! Repeated three times in four verses, this command should not be ignored. God understood that Joshua would face some significant challenges. These were the ones that would produce fear, intimidation, and even discord among the people Joshua was called to lead. However, God made it clear that if Joshua demonstrated strength and courage while following His direction, Joshua would be successful in everything he did. Like Joshua, God has a plan for each of us and offers the same promise when we follow Him. However, we will also have to be strong and courageous to reach our full potential.

While we have been talking about the more quiet (non-public) application of courage, we should not underestimate the power of example. Billy Graham once said, “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” I have learned over the years, especially when in a position of leadership, someone is always watching. How we communicate, make decisions, and respond to situations is often being observed. We may think these more subtle moments don’t matter much, but they are critical for our personal development, not to mention impactful to those who may be watching from a distance.

Challenge: Be strong and courageous! Remember, courage is not the absence of fear but rather the ability to keep going despite the presence of fear. Don’t underestimate the power of example. Let your courage be contagious.