Take Courage and Hold On
Well, hey there, buttercup, pull up a chair and swat that there pesky mosquito off your knee ‘a-fore he gets him a good drink, because we’re about to wade knee deep into some o’ that there real holy encouragement waters. And if’n you go to fallin’ into them holy water, don’t you be ‘a-worryin’, I’ve done seen some raccoons with better balance than most of us have early on a Monday mornin’.
Fear is a sneaky , mean lil’ ol’ rascal. It tiptoes right in like a possum in your pantry and suddenly you are a‑standin’ there ‘a-wonderin’ how in the world you done got so rattled. Them disciples, they done knowed that there feelin’. They were out on that Sea of Galilee, ‘a-mindin’ their own business, ‘a-doin’ exactly what Jesus done told them to do, when a storm rolled in like a bull that woke up real cranky. Even the fishermen were a‑shakin’ like a lil’ ol’ goats ‘a-slippin’ and slidin’ ‘round on a trampoline.
Then here comes Jesus, just a‑walkin’ on the water like it’s the most normal thing in the whole world. If I’d been in that there boat, junebug, I would’ve done hollered so loud the squirrels in the next county would’ve done filed a noise complaint ‘a-gin’ me. Them there disciples done thought Jesus was some king o’ a ghost. In Matthew 14:27, Jesus said, “Ya’ll take courage. I AM. Don’t be afraid.” Which is Bible talk for “Calm down, y’all. I done got this.”
There was two reasons they didn’t need to panic. First, Jesus was with ‘em in the storm. Second, He’d already done told ‘em they were ‘a-goin’ to the other side. If Jesus says you’re ‘a-goin’, then you are ‘a-goin’ even if you have to be ‘a-rowin’ like a three-legged duck.
And listen here, buttercup, He done knows exactly where you are right now. Your life may be ‘a-feelin’ all tangled up like a fishing line done caught up in a pine tree, but He done sees it clear as day. Folks in Scripture got real skeerd, too. Abraham, Jacob, David, Elijah, Peter. Half the Bible done looks like a support group for people who done thought they was ‘bout to get killed. Yet God done used every one of them.
God has good plans for you. Real good ones. Hope-filled ones. And He’ll finish what He done started in you. Philippians 1:6 done says so.
Father , I be ‘a-thankin’ You for walkin’ into our storms even when we are a‑shiverin’ like a cold calf. Give us courage to be trustin’ You, strength to be ‘a-keepin’ goin’, and eyes to be seein’ that You are right here with us all the time. In Jesus name, Amen.
Now go on, butterbean, and be a‑facin’ your new day with a whole big ol’ bunch of courage. If’n God can use them there scared shepherds, nervous prophets, and jumpy disciples, He can surely be equipin’ and usin’ you in mighty fine ways, even if’n you are a‑feelin’ like a lil’ ol’ chicken a‑tryin’ to do a chemistry experiment without goggles or gloves. Just remember this as you step forward. Courage ain’t ‘bout feelin’ brave. It’s ‘bout holdin’ on to the One who’s already ‘a-knowin’ the way through. And as long as you are a‑walkin’ with Him, even your wobblin’ steps can be ‘a-carryin’ you farther than you ever done imagined. So, be ‘a-liftin’ up that there head, steadyin’ them knees, and ‘a-keepin’ on ‘a-goin’, knowin’ He is a‑workin’ strength in you that no storm, no setback, and no critter a‑nippin’ at your heels can ever be ‘a-takin’ away.
With joy,
Gwen
