GAINING COURAGE DURING DIFFICULT TIMES

SCRIPTURE:
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 
(Mark 4:30)

MEDITATION:
When we face a hardship in life, is fear the first emotion we feel? 
It doesn’t have to be; 
we can respond in faith regardless of our circumstances. 
Remember, courage isn’t just an attitude of toughness or determination; 
it is a quality of mind and spirit that enables us 
to meet the challenges of life with peace.

Here are four important things to remember when facing life's trials:
1. Be aware of God's presence.
The most important thing to realize 
through any hardship or temptation is that God is with us. 
While other people may desert us, the Lord never will.
Remember what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit: 
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be 
with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, 
because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides 
with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17) 
When we trust Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit will always be with us, no matter what.

2. Draw from God's strength.
Stressful circumstances can drain us emotionally, physically, and spiritually, 
which can make us more vulnerable to satanic attacks. 
Another key to facing any difficulty with courage 
is to draw from the Lord’s strength.
As Jesus said, “...the Father sent the Holy Spirit to help us”.

The Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, and He dwells within every 
born-again believer, providing divine power for living the Christian life. 
Through Him we gain discernment and spiritual wisdom. 
He strengthens us physically and guides our emotions 
as we submit to His leading.

3. Yield to His purpose.
When Paul stood before the Roman tribunal to give his defense, 
he knew their authority amounted to nothing compared to the power of God. 
He also knew his suffering was for a specific purpose. 
The apostle said, 
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. 
May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me 
strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all 
the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 
(2 Timothy 4:16-17)

Knowing the Lord is always near, 
Paul was confident he could yield to the Father’s will. 
It wouldn’t be the tribunal’s decision whether or not to take his life, 
it would be God’s. 
Because Paul trusted the Lord’s plan, he was able to give 
one of the greatest defenses of the faith ever proclaimed. 
His suffering served a purpose: 
‘to share the message of the risen Savior with the Gentiles, 
and eventually the world’.

We need to know our suffering is not in vain. 
God sometimes allows affliction in order to accomplish His purposes, 
which include demonstrating to the world His faithfulness through our lives. 
Hardship gives us the chance to say, 
“Let me tell you about the Lord. He is the source of my strength, faith, 
perseverance, and endurance. He’s the One enabling me to go through this.”

4. Meditate on His Word.
There is one other thing that can keep our spirits up 
during difficult times - God’s Word. 
Paul specifically asked Timothy 
to bring his scrolls and parchments when he was on trial in Rome 
When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, 
and my scrolls, especially the parchments. (2 Timothy 4:13) 
While nobody knows for certain, more than likely those ‘scrolls’ 
were early writings of the gospel (or some portion of it) 
and the ‘parchments’ referred to Hebrew Scripture.

In spite of the sermons Paul preached, the churches he established, 
and the profound knowledge he had, he was just as normal as any of us. 
He needed the living Word of God to remind him of the truth, 
and provide encouragement. 
When we encounter hardships in life, 
reading Scripture on a daily basis protects our hearts and minds.

ACTION:
If you will remember to do these four things, you can be filled with the 
courage to walk through any trial and be victorious in the Lord Jesus Christ.
No one chooses to go through times of pain and sorrow in life, 
but you 'can' choose your response. 
You can decide to pray to the Father and praise Him in all things.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for never leaving me, and for strengthening 
me at all times. Whatever it takes, use me to accomplish Your purposes. 
Help me to enjoy being used by You. As I meditate on Your Word, nourish 
my soul with the truth, encourage me, and guide me through any hardships 
that come my way. Help me to praise and honor You regardless of my 
circumstances.”