“Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear.” (I John 4:18) This is something I say over (& over) again: “God’s perfect love drives out fear.” Seems like there’s always something to be afraid of when fears of all shapes (& sizes) overpower our courage muscles (& not just @ night.)
Fear can cripple our courage muscles to be and do – because we don’t think we’re good enough, or we don’t want to get up again after falling down (failure, once again?)
Watching the Captain Marvel movie, one of my favorite parts is when the bad guys (no spoilers here) get in Captain Marvel’s head with scenes of her failures, but she turns herself around with pictures of how she got back up again & again (from a derby car crash as a child, to picking up a baseball bat after a fast ball knocks her down, to getting back up after falling during military ropes training.)
After she breaks free of failure constraints she then kicks some serious butt… (it’s a seriously fun movie, my big sis-not-a-super-hero-movie fan even enjoyed it.)
Maybe (unlike Captain Marvel) we’re having a hard time getting back up this go round with whatever is facing us, but we’re not alone. That’s the point: GOD’S LOVE is what drives our fears out and strengthens our courage muscles.
“The mystery of God’s love is not that He takes our pains away, but that He first wants to share them with us.” Henri Nouwen
“God is faithful even when we aren’t. When we lack courage, God doesn’t… When the disciples were weak, Jesus was strong. God is greater than our weakness. Our weakness reveals how great God is.” Max Lucado (“A Gentle Thunder”)
grace, peace & courage muscles
Virginia : )
Roses in the Rubble 
I love the thought of God building up my courage muscles!
Thanks, Michele — it’s something I ask God for regularly (to strengthen the courage muscles of my heart!) Blessings! 🙂
What a beautiful picture with the white rose. One of my favorite jobs was working as a camp Nurse in Minnesota…Camp Courage. God changed me that summer. I will never forget Camp Courage and those with special needs that intersected my life.
What a great name for a camp: Camp Courage! We should all take a sessions there! I took that white rose pic of a bouquet given to my precious mama. Blessings & hugs! 🙂
absolutly beautiful-how well said. Thank you
Thank you, Michele, for your courageous example — in small things & big things, what you’ve shared @ The Rabbit Patch has encouraged us to flex our courage muscles more! Hugs! 🙂
Now that would be a blessing-and really is my goal. I want folks to find beauty in their lives and just be encouraged to do our best-thank you for your very kind words. love Michele
💨🙏💨🌷🤗🌷💨☀️💨🌷
xoxoxo Michele