When the hardest “yes” is the answer you know you must give even though you are screaming “no” on the inside…
When a decision causes trepidation in your heart, but ultimately will provide comfort for your soul …
When saying “yes” is the bravest thing you will do…
then you know you have turned the corner to brave faith. You are one step closer to the brave that God knew you always had in you. The “yes” you answer is the one God has craved to hear since you were born.
This scenario played out not too long ago in my own life. A community I had been invited to join and spend time with was the very one that I now needed to say “no” to hanging with. A time to share encouragement every other weekend with other beautiful writers needed to happen in a different setting. God was closing the door on this weekend community in respect to what He knew I needed. Read more here of this difficult decision that has become a cornerstone to deepening my relationship with God.
Brave happens in every decision we make. You will find it in your yeses and noes. Brave is in you as you navigate your daily routines and seek to understand the challenges in front of you. Brave is in your everyday and this journey we are on together to brave faith is an example that even though you might not consider yourself “brave”, God and those around you do! Do you feel a difference since the first time you entered this walk with me? I know I do!
[Tweet “Brave faith is when we allow God to lead us to our destination. #bravefaith #write31days”]
This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is good for you
and leads you along the paths you should follow. Isaiah 48:17
When we are asked to do the hard things and our reaction is to fight it every step of the way, we know God is leading us to a new brave. He is equipping us for the journey and He is making ready the path we need to follow.
Letting God take charge always leads us to our destination, which is life in and for Him. Brave faith is how we get there.
How will you embrace brave faith today?
Be brave!
Mary
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Sometimes brave is getting out of bed in the morning. Just engaging, continuing on the path He has set out for me. Thank you for this encouraging series, friend!
I understand what you are saying. Brave happens during the simplest tasks of our day because it was a struggle, but God gave us the strength to take that next step. Love that you are here and encouraging me along the way.
I’m learning to be brave in this journey. Thank you for sharing your insights about your walk with God. I love the look of your website as well as your content, keep writing!
Thank you Nancy! I appreciate you joining in today. Praying you have a good weekend.
I can’t answer your question about brave faith right now…maybe he’s asking me to draw even closer…I had a rough morning with my normally favorite class of juniors and seniors. I think I spent more time in silent prayer than I did talking. Four contrary kids in one class of 15. Sigh. I almost burst into tears–maybe the 31 Day journey is wearing on me (of maybe the story I’m telling is getting to the most tender wounds and it’s a tear-inducing combination). I guess I’m too young to retire, though ;).
That is perfectly fine. God knows your heart and how your words are a journey to share with others as well as to honor Him. To me that is very brave. I am praying for you and your students. Teaching is so hard and you are never too young to retire if there is another part of your next that God is calling you to. Hope your weekend is restful and stress free. Maybe I’ll see some of your amazing pictures posted on Facebook!
I tend to look at the scary or difficult situation or circumstances – or at least what I imagine they will be – when I need to strengthen my bravery by keeping my focus on Him.
I love how you say you Keep your focus on Him. I pray that I am able to do that at all times and now just when I need Him the most. Thank you for being here. Hope you have a blessed weekend.
Seems the yes we say to HIM means a no we say to something/someone else, sometimes ourselves. I just click on the link in your post about leaving Weekend Whispers.
I ma finding that God is asking me to say “no” to more things than “yes” at this time. I finally am learning that I need to listen to Him first instead of just jumping into things that I think I am supposed to do. I have had to step away and say “no” after saying “yes”. So it seems my time is becoming emptier but really it is God asking me to spend it with Him first before I fill it with other things. Thanks for being here!
Mary, it wasn’t apparent at first how much I needed this series on brave faith, but it has become clearer over time. My brave for today? Maybe it’s just to rest in knowing my days are all in His hands, the good, bad and indifferent ones, the better energy or pain-filled ones. And to say a brave yes to them all as gift and grace.
We discover how those closed doors we get are really for our ultimate good as God leads us closer toward the open window we would have missed in our distracted busyness. I’ve loved being here to share the journey with you and I’m sure we’ve all grown in understanding along the way. Thank you for saying a brave yes to writing so openly about how brave looks to you in this season of change. Bless you, friend. x
Thank you for saying what you did. I know that being brave for me is surrendering my present to God so He can prepare me for the future. I have been spending too much time on trying to control what is going to happen next and it is not working out very well. Your sweet words have made realize again that I need God more than I think I do. Thank you for blessing me with this comment.
Yes! This is exactly what I have been dealing with lately. Saying no can be harder than saying yes. Thank you for sharing your heart and the beautiful verse.
Being a mom you would think we have perfected the answer “no”. In many cases we have when it comes to our children, but when we think of “no” in terms of ourselves, it can be a big challenge. Praying we both accept the “noes” that God leads us to and answer willingly and lovingly.
I love that God has a better map of where God is leading me then I do. God knows where I need to say yes and God knows where I need to say no.
Amen! God has THE plan and I am learning to surrender myself to Him for my what’s next. That is not an easy thing for me. Praying that we both learn how to let go and let God. Hugs!
Now that I think of it, I really have needed all that’s brave in this season where I’ve felt weak and vulnerable and a bit anxious. I’ve needed His strength to fill me to overflowing and this He’s doing.
So, thanks for doing BRAVE for me, Mary. He must have told you how much I needed your daily words.
Weekend grace and peace to you, faithful friend. Thanks for spurring me on.
Hugs to ya’ …
;-}
My biggest take away from my series so far is that God is asking me to write these words for myself. I evidently have a lot to learn when it comes to being brave and He knows that. Hope your weekend is wonderful! So glad you are hanging with me.