I believe that courage is one of the most needed virtues in this day and age. Courage to stand for what’s right in the face of persecution is vital to overcoming evil. There’s a chapter in my book, Heavy Rain
, called “Unreasonable Courage,” and Carrie Lloyd wrote this guest blog about it.
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‘God does not care about what you don’t have. He only cares about what you do have.’
– Kris Vallotton, Heavy Rain.
And there was me, always working on developing that which I lack; that which I feel hopeless in. I focused on eradicating my weakness, so that I might be validated and useful for God one day. Yet He had validated me from birth, with desires and passions that would permeate any fear that could come my way. Had I known this wisdom of focusing on what I did have, perhaps I could be more courageous. Perhaps I could be, as Kris titles chapter 11 of Heavy Rain, a person with ‘unreasonable courage’.
I often wondered whether courage was something you were born with, like a slim physique, or rich parents. According to Vallotton, no one is disqualified, and if we are, it’s because we disqualified ourselves. There are too many figures in both the bible and in history to argue against such logic.
‘God is famous for accomplishing extraordinary things with ordinary people.’
Heavy Rain, page 96.
The beauty of Kris’ writing is that his stories are littered, particularly in this chapter, with true-life characters famous for their courageous acts, from Rosa Parks, to Roosevelt. Many of these history makers, these movement makers, could have buckled to people-pleasing, self-criticism, a sordid past – quenching fear’s thirst and never fulfilling part of the world’s destiny, never mind their own life story.
It was in this chapter that I was beautifully reminded of one of my own heroes, the man whose courage fought the dismal odds England had to face.
During the Second World War, when Nazi Germany was obliterating the city of London, Clementine Churchill, Winston Churchill’s wife, insisted that ‘Winnie’ slept in the war rooms during the bomb raids. He had a tendency to ignore security advice and instead watch the bombs fall over London from the rooftops, as if watching a firework display.
On one particular night, Clementine asked Churchill’s bodyguard, Thompson, to ensure Churchill was escorted to his bed in the war rooms, the safest construction built for parliament’s war leaders, 20 feet underground. On command, he watched a pajama clad Churchill climb into his bed, grumbling in disagreement. Ten minutes later, his bodyguard found Churchill out of his bed, and dressed again:
‘Come on Thompson. I’ve done as my wife has asked, now we must walk to the Cabinet office.’
As they journeyed from the war rooms through the roads of Pall Mall, a bomb fell and exploded 100 feet from Churchill near St James’ Palace.
His bodyguard, petrified, looked at a smiling Winston.
‘You see. There is someone looking after me besides you.’
‘Do you mean Sargent Davis, sir?’ Thompson asked.
‘No.’ Churchill looked to the sky. ‘I have a mission to perform and that person intends to see that it is performed.’
There is something about courage that is built from a choice within; a choice to face fear over and over again. A willingness to take ourselves out of ourselves and serve the greater good. In the earlier years of Churchill’s life, he wrote about the fear and trembling once faced during his times as a lieutenant. But a solidarity from near scrapes and close misses kept telling Churchill that he need fear nothing, not Hitler himself, if he has a purpose protected by a much mightier intelligence than human flaw.
Again I take note of what Kris has to say,
‘He is not as interested in keeping us safe as He is in trying to keep us from a meaningless life.’
One of the most attractive attributes to a Christian character when being watched by any unbeliever, is their ability to be bolder than the average man.
Whatever the hurdle, whatever Goliath we must face in our own personal life, I’m reminded again of how unintimidating fear can feel, when you know you’re on Glory’s side.
Are you facing something that requires unreasonable courage? Tell me about it in the comments below.
For more on this subject, check out the Revised and Updated Edition of Heavy Rain: How to Flood Your World with God’s Transforming Power at HeavyRainBook.com
and watch the video below!
