COURAGE IN SEASON OF DISTRESS

Introduction

First and foremost, a clear distinction between courage and distress is needful for better comprehension in this article. According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, courage is defined as a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear. On the other hand, distress is defined as a state of adversity (danger, affliction or need). Having explained by defining both terms, one may wonder how possible it is to display courage in a time of distress. From my personal experiences, life brings our way challenges, which are filled with distresses with one main objective, which is to shake the foundation of our courage. Courage is not, if it fails to pass the test of adversity, HIE Godspeed once said that, “the true strength of a man is not in time of comfort, but in time of affliction.” A good example of a man who exhibited courage in the face of distress according to the Bible (Psalms 3) is King David when his son Absalom sought to kill him. It is possible to exhibit courage at great length in the face of adversity provided the following processes are achieved, which include; meditation of God’s word, acting on God’s word and believing in God’s word.

Meditation of God’s Word: According to several scientific studies, the fastest way to get an idea or event into the subconscious mind of a person is via the act of meditation. The act of meditation goes way back as far as the Adamic age. So, what is meditation? It is a continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature. People of different tongues and ethnicity have discovered the power imbedded in the act of meditation for example, the Chinese uses it to search for inner peace. Believers are expected to do even more by meditating (thinking) upon God’s word through the day and night, which will help in renewing their mindset to see things, events or adversity the way God sees them. When this is achieved it becomes too easy for the believer to show courage in spite of the teeming adversity right before him.

Acting on God’s Word: Without a grounded knowledge of what the word of God entails, there is no acting on it. This situation is liken to a lawmaker with no fore knowledge of the constitution, yet he tries to win a case in the court of law. It is clear that the lawmaker will fail in his foolish quest. So also, a believer who fails to understand God’s word via the act of meditation will lack in all ramification the strength required to act on it. Acting on God’s word simply means walking by the precept and commandment of God’s word. A believer, who is grounded in the word of God, will show his strength of character by exhibiting courage in the face of adversity, because there are more than a hundred portions in God’s word where the believer draws strength and fortifies his courage. It is worthy to note that, the depth of your meditation of God’s word will determine the level you act on it.

Believing in God’s Word: Your believe system is a function of the mind. A mind carefully cultivated with good things will find it easier to believe in better things and vice versa. The first place any battle (emotional, physical, mental, etc.) is fought, won or lost is in the mind. According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, believe is defined as to accept as true; take to be true. For a believer to show courage in the face of distress, the believer must meditate, act and believe God’s word. Believing in the power of the written and spoken word of God in the face of adversity enables God to show forth His power and it helps deepen the believers’ trust in God and gives him more confidence in the face of any challenge(s) life is yet to throw his way.

Conclusion
We as humans may not know what life holds for us in the nearest future but, one thing is sure, for those foolish enough to meditate, act and believe on the creators’ manual (Bible) for man, showing confidence in the face of distress is just a second nature. I implore you to put your trust in Him and make His living word your companion, because that is where you can find total strength.