Courageous love’s test
really comes when those who are supposed to love and protect you abandon,
reject or harm you. This pain is
the most unbearable kind and can make us insecure and uncertain of ourselves – creating
an unsurpassable obstacle for moving forward into our futures. In 2 Samuel 6 David ushers the Ark of
the Covenant into Jerusalem. This
exemplifies his success as king and a leader anointed by God. After celebrating the monumental event,
he enters his palace to find his wife and bless her. First we see that she chose to not attend this very
important celebration with her husband.
Next we see that as he – probably still reveling in the moment and
hoping to receive at least a smile from his wife instead becomes an object of
attack for her.
David had two choices. He could have caved in to insecurity
and crumpled under her disapproval, but he quickly and confidently counters her
banter by reminding her – and perhaps himself – that he was chosen by God as
leader of all Israel and that He alone held the highest position in his life –
above all – even her. For
generations and multitudes of reasons, women live on either extreme of
self-confidence – completely lacking any – or having too much in their own
abilities. The enemy loves to
steal our confidence or to guide us into investing it in the wrong things. Learning to love courageously teaches
us the balance.
Women, in an attempt to not
appear bossy or arrogant, embrace a false sense of humility. This kind of humility doesn’t work
because in reality it is the worst form of pride – basing our character on what
others might perceive. We attempt
to control that perception – but it is not genuine and lacks authenticity. True humility requires a strong sense
of who we are and who God is which allows us to position ourselves to serve
others and put them first. However
– it also puts us in a position to speak truth in difficult situations – even
if it is about ourselves.
Being confident is one of
the highest attributes a woman attain to have, and evidence we love
courageously. Joyce Meyer says
that we don’t have to feel confident to act it. Confidence is a decision we make and a commitment we honor
to living as a child of God, a child loved, valued, and forgiven. Do not let the enemy derail you in your
journey of loving courageously.
Humbly, confidently remain steadfast even in the face of painful moments
each are sure to encounter in our most intimate relationships. Remember the first one who loved us –
still loves us – even if nobody else does. We can live in real humility – trusting and secure enough to
let others shine – and yet not allowing them to imbed lies into our identity.
Romans 5:3-5 3We know that
suffering creates endurance, 4endurance creates character, and
character creates confidence. 5We’re not ashamed to have this
confidence, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy
Spirit, who has been given to us.
1Timothy 4:10 10Certainly,
we work hard and struggle to live a godly life, because we place our confidence
in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who
believe.
Titus 3:4-8 4However, when
God our Savior made his kindness and love for humanity appear, 5he
saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain his approval.
Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through the washing in which the Holy
Spirit gives us new birth and renewal. 6God poured a generous amount
of the Spirit on us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7As a result,
God in his kindness has given us his approval and we have become heirs who have
the confidence that we have everlasting life. 8This is a statement
that can be trusted. I want you to insist on these things so that those who
believe in God can concentrate on setting an example by doing good things. This
is good and helps other people.
Hebrew 3:6 6But Christ is
a faithful son in charge of God’s household. We are his household if we
continue to have courage and to be proud of the confidence we have.
