Courage Observed…
How would you define Courage? Recently, I saw a few good definitions on Dictionary.com: Intrepidness, bravery, fearlessness, resolve, determination…all great definitinos, but I kind of disagree.
Probably my favorite definition for courage is this: “the act of helping a person when the fear of injury to them outweighs the fear of injury to yourself”
When I think of this definition, I usually think of something heroic like firemen or soldiers facing impossible odds on the behalf of those in need. Do you relate?
Have you ever felt the odds were against you?
I work in the field of cardiology and daily I see people whose hearts are beating at a fraction of what they should. Many times their heart pumps at a mere 10-20 % of it’s potential. We give them medications to make them comfortable, or try to improve an already failing organ to possibly extend their life, but you kinda know they live with the question of “until when” in the backs of their minds. It’s interesting how some deal with the reality of their own mortality. In many cases I feel like I’m dichotomically trying to convince them that the “odds” are against them, yet still be a voice of hope and healing. This in itself is quite a challenge. But occasionally you meet those patients who have remarkable spirits and you are left in wonder and inspired to handle your own circumstances as graciously as they handle theirs. I had a patient just like this last week. Her name is Mrs. B.
Psalm 3 reminds me of Mrs. B because she knows the odds are stacked against her. Her poor health is her enemy. She is elderly. She has a husband who had a massive stroke many years ago and is wheelchair bound. He needs 24/7 assistance for everything from holding a fork to using the bathroom or taking a bath. We all know people like this. The ill caring for the ill. The sick grandmothers who take care of the sick grandfathers. This is Mrs. B.
She came in to our clinic because she has chest pain whenever she exerts herself . She did many tests and the results were positive for blockages in the arteries of her heart. The thing is, her WHOLE LIFE is exerting herself as she cares for her husband. She lifts him and feeds him. She is his full time caregiver. She admitted that this was causing her anxiety and difficulty sleeping. She recently started new medication that didn’t really help. She was tired and at the end of her rope.
David in verse 3 shows that the people around him were of no help. Many told him that God probably won’t be delivering him from his enemies any time soon. It’s possible that a well meaning friend was saying “maybe God is punishing you right now” or “sorry David, we can’t hang because you’re probably getting what you deserve at this moment!” … all of these attacks, from both his enemies and friends were occurring all at once. Kind of like me (her friend) telling Mrs. B, she’s really sick with heart disease (her enemy) and she should find someone else to help care for her husband. I told her she needs time for herself and needs to take a break every once in a while. I told her she can’t expect her body to handle such stress. So how do you think she responded?
She was offended.
She said, “my husband is my life and he needs me right now, please help me feel well enough so I can take care of him”
“…he is my life…”
Courageous.
So David was forced to cry out to God.
Literally…
…cry out…
…”aloud”…
In the middle of crying out aloud to God, he realized that God was his shield. It was God who protected him against enemies and “friends” who attacked with verbal weapons as well as physical ones. David through his cries, in the midst of his despair and fear, and maybe even a feeling of betrayal, was touched by God. And God gave him peace. God realigned his perspective. He was so affected by God that he was able to fall asleep. Ooooh, the blessing of restful, comfortable, rejuvenating, peaceful, deep sleep…without taking Ambien or Lunesta. Without being woken up by the kids! He then woke up and was infused with energy for the task at hand. Almost like he was fueled by a supernatural source of strength.
When was the last time you slept so soundly?
When was the last time you got up after prayer and were moved to advance despite the odds being against you?
David said:
“I wake again because the Lord sustains me”
…then…
“I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side”
At some point, I was compelled to ask Mrs. B if she had a social support network, like if she went to church or temple. She said she’d like to go to church, but was too busy caring for her husband to make it there. I then asked if she prayed. She said she did. So I asked if I could pray with her their in the exam room and she said “yes, but only if you speak the words.” So I prayed basically that God would take care of her so she could take care of her husband. This was a beautiful moment for me.
After our “amens”, she hugged me with tears in her eyes and said thank you. Of course I gave her the medications she needed for her heart, but what she told me before she left was priceless:
“I think I’ll be able to sleep peacfully tonight”
Mrs. B in the mist of her despair and anxiety chose to set aside the concerns of her own frailty to care for her husband who is convalesced. She came before God and I believe her soul was refreshed. David feared death and had no support. He “cried” out to God and was given peace and perspective. He woke up ready to take on “tens of thousands on every side” He recognized the Lord as his deliverer and was even compelled to pray a blessing on God’s people.
Firemen jump into burning buildings or crumbling skyscrapers ready to save people they don’t know, soldiers are willing to take a bullet for a country full of people they have yet to meet.
Jesus took upon himself the weight and consequences of your sin and mine and died on the cross on our behalf.
Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is this: “the act of helping a person when the fear of injury to them outweighs the fear of injury to yourself”
Mrs. B is courageous, Jesus was couragous…how about you?
Greg Gunn
gcgunn1@yahoo.com