Made to be Courageous

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

My husband and I recently had the opportunity to go see the movie Courageous.

If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it.

It was an amazing movie, filled with God’s mercy, grace and, of course, courage.

It was the type of movie that makes you think long and hard about life.

And for hours afterwards that’s exactly what I was doing.

I began to think about the one thing in the movie and my own life I think should be different.

I noticed that the wives in the movie (who seem to be a good reflection of this imperfect wife) were shown in different situations encouraging their husbands in a way they knew best. They were depicted as women who wanted what was best for their family, who voiced their opinions and concerns.

But if we are going to get real about our imperfections: they were nagging their husbands.

I wish that the wives had been shown on their knees voicing their concerns to God, rather than depicted as nagging and hurling criticisms at their husbands.

And the truth is I saw myself in those wives–more than I wanted to.

How many times have I taken my fear and used it as a measuring stick for my husband, rather than taking those concerns straight to the throne room?

The consistent thought running through my head after the movie?

God is calling wives to stand up. To stand in the gap for our husbands. To lift our husbands up in prayer. To honor our husbands. To surrender our husbands to God.

He is looking for wives who will fall to their knees to fight for their marraiges.

We cannot expect our husbands to answer the call to be courageous until we ourselves are willing to be.

Ladies, are you ready to join me? Are you ready to answer the call?

Are you ready to be courageous?

Standing for our marriages,

Barb