I woke up to my phone’s alarm, the screen radiating a too-early time. I ambled downstairs and flipped on our gas stove before walking into the kitchen and pulling my chai latte fixings from the fridge. It wasn’t till I dropped two pieces of bread in the toaster that I noticed the entire room blazed coral pink.
Grabbing my phone, I slipped open the sliding glass door near our kitchen. My bare feet stepped from the warm, toasty room onto the cold wood planks of our side porch. My breath caught first from the frigid morning air and then from the sight before me.
For a good long while, I snapped picture after picture. Several times I shivered in the cold, but I just couldn’t quit the scene before me.
Finally I lowered my camera and headed back inside, but I couldn’t let go of this one thought:
To take in a bigger portion of God’s glory, sometimes you have to brave the cold.
Several months ago, I wrote about my struggle with fear on several fronts. Releasing a book found me “out there” to a greater degree, and while I don’t exaggerate my visibility or recognition, I still found myself afraid to be more fully seen. Then there’s the fact that raising three teens is chock-full of scary possibilities. Other circumstances poured into the fear-cocktail too. And while I can honestly say I originally hit these challenges with courage head on, as the battles persist, I’ve become bone-weary in the fight.
I know the way to stop unraveling into the fear is by folding myself into the Gospel. And as I’ve sat with Jesus, He reaffirms that it’s okay to live from how the Creator made me and out of His love for me.
But as is the case with much in life, problems don’t disappear overnight. More often than not, we don’t get over them. We move through them with slow, persistent work.
And in this middle place of working through something—in the space between moving courageously and waiting for something to change—you can lose your gumption.
Hope gets buried beneath 50 layers of defeated thinking, and you’re sure you’re making all the wrong moves.
I’ve been there, and as I read through Exodus 14, I see Moses and the Israelites have been there too. In this passage of Scripture, Pharaoh had just freed them from captivity, and the Lord then leads Moses and His people onward and away from Egypt. But sometime shortly thereafter, Pharaoh changed his mind and goes after God’s people.
As the Israelites camped near the Red Sea, all of Pharaoh’s army barreled down on them. When the Israelites saw them approaching, they were full of fear and began questioning every move that brought them there. Moses spoke up and said,
Fear not, stand firm . . . The Lord will fight for you. (Exodus 14:13-14)
Then the Lord unzipped the Red Sea’s waters so that the Israelites could cross. Once they reached the other side unharmed, He brought the waters back together again over the entire Egyptian army.
The Israelites were scared, yes, but they leaned into that promise: The Lord will fight for you.
And they moved forward.
I don’t know the details of your circumstances or situation, but if you’re plumb haggard and fear is making you question where you’re at right now, please hear this:
Keep on keepin’ on. You’ve got this.
Psalm 31:24 says it like this:
Be strong, and let your heart take courage; all you who wait for the Lord.
It doesn’t say have courage, it says take courage. Keep on keeping company with Christ and ask Him to take your fears and to embolden your courage.
Bravery is not the absence of fear but following God through the fear as you believe God’s promises. It’s holding on to the facts of your faith more tightly than to the fears for the future.
Hold the hand of hope knowing God will not waste this season. It’s cold now, yes, but it won’t last forever.
We will sing to our souls
We won’t bury our hope.
Where he leads us to go.
There’s a Red Sea Road.When we can’t see the way
He will part the waves.
And we’ll never walk alone down the Red Sea Road.~from the title track of the album Red Sea Road by Ellie Holcomb
Take courage, dear ones: the fight is not over. You have not lost. You’ve made it to the edge of the shore, where the waters will part.
You’ve made it to the edge of the sunrise where God’s glory waits.
Onward march.
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Kristen,
As always, your timing is impeccable. I NEEDED this this morning. I feel a little like that person trying to keep too many plates spinning in the air on the tops of thin rods. Being the type of person that I am, I’ve become adept at plate spinning and I can easily come unraveled if any of the plates start crashing to the floor. Needless to say, in this imperfect world, plates will fall…as as they do I have been feeling more and more unraveled. I climb into God’s word and I find comfort for the moment, but soon fear creeps back in. I think that my problem is that I’m “trying” instead of “trusting”. After reading God’s word…I then need to trust in it. The same God who parted the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites, will fight for me too if I will simply stand and let Him fight. Knowing my fearful heart, God gave me a “God wink” yesterday…an answer to one of the plates that had come crashing to the ground. Oh how He knows me and that I needed this reminder that if He’s got the little stuff…He certainly has the Big stuff. God’s got this and He reminds us through God winks like your sunrise. Now, like you said, we need to keep marching forward. Thank you sweet friend…
Blessings,
Bev xx
Kristen Strong says
Oh, your words about trying instead of trusting minister to me deeply. May we both remember that He certainly has the big stuff too! Much love to you, Bev. xoxo
NJ says
Dear Kristen,
Loved your photography and what you wrote. Exactly what I needed.
Thank you!
Kristen Strong says
Thank you for your kind words, NJ. Much love.
Brenda says
Those sunrises…I can’t quit them. Confession: I have so many pictures on my phone of sunrises. I have no idea which ones belong to which days, but–they never cease to humble and strengthen me, all at the same time. Every morning I watch the sunrise as I do my Bible reading, and every day the glory of that sunrise somehow catches me off-guard. As if I haven’t watched it rise day upon day, but each one always feels unique, and special, and — glorious. Shouting glory. Whispering hope. —– Love how you emphasize, in that Psalms verse, “take” courage. Interesting. I like that. —- Thanks for sharing this morning, Kristin. ((hug))
Brenda says
Sorry I spelled your name wrong! ((hug))
Kristen Strong says
Oh girl, I’m not one who is bothered by that at all! (Love, Kristin, Krysten, Cristen, Kristen 😉 )
And yes, I just can’t get enough sunsets, either. They are pure glory. Much love, Brenda!
Blake says
Brilliant and much needed. Thank you!! xo
Penny says
Kristen,
Thank-you for writing this amazing post it really got to me. I think I will keep those verses from the Red Sea road handy, as well as Psalm 31:24.
These were my thoughts i wrote down yesterday: “Thank God, so much to look forward to….keep on, keeping on.” I try to keep in mind that despite twists, and turns along the way, there is hope each new day.
Have a blessed day all,
Penny
Kristen Strong says
There *is* hope each new day.
Thankful for your words and your presence in this community, Penny! xo
Elizabeth says
Woah! You really spoke to me this morning. My life has been recently turned upside down, and I am desperately struggling to find answers. I have so many questions! This devotional really inspired me this morning. I think “Take Courage” will be my new mantra in moments of high anxiety. God Bless You!
Kristen Strong says
Elizabeth, I’m so sorry for all you’re going through right now. I’m praying right now for the Lord to give you a message of courage that speaks into the heart of your circumstances. Much love.
Kayla says
Wow. Thank you for this. I’ve prayed for God to open my eyes up to the hope He has given me. He always come through and gives me little bits here and there, and today He’s done it again through you. This is great!
Kristen Strong says
I’m so glad, Kayla.
Gina Butz says
Amen sister! Thanks-this was a good word for me today. 🙂
ruth knox says
Thank you!
Lynda says
Profound words to me today – thank you for penning them. God is good. Onward March!
Dale says
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Thank you for writing this amazing post , that is what I needed for today.
Renee Swope says
Oh friend. This is so good for my heart today. I am folding myself into the Gospel.
“It doesn’t say have courage, it says take courage. Keep on keeping company with Christ and ask Him to take your fears and to embolden your courage.” Amen!!
Kristen Strong says
Renee! I love seeing you here. Your encouragement is always the best kind. Love you!
Stephanie says
Really needed this Kristen! Have always struggled with fear and anxiety. Thank you for your peaceful/ love filled words. Blessings and love ❤❤
Kristen Strong says
And same to you, dear Stephanie.
Toyin says
And I so love this bit “You’ve made it to the edge of the shore, where the waters will part”. Thank you so much for this!
Kristen Strong says
Thank *you* for being in this community, Toyin, and for sharing your own encouragement. Much love!
Debi says
1 John 4:8: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” I struggle remembering this, but with God, we are loved!
Summer says
Dearest Miss Kristen,
Thank you so much for this post and for sharing the words God so clearly put on your heart. I definitely know how it feels to be brought out of one situation and feel like you are hitting wall after wall… after wall. Working job after job day after day. Praying to God to save you and guide you towards His plan for your life. Now, God has blessed me with friends, family, job and a life I had only ever prayed for. While we all go through hard, quiet, uneventful times I full heartedly know that God always has something right around the corner for us. We need to enjoy the quiet seasons and seasons of rest. Continuing to look for the little things (like a gorgeous sunrise) and intentionally seek Him and his help in our daily battles.
This side of Heaven,
Summer Rae
Thank you again for sharing!! I love this!
Sarah says
Thanks for this, Kristen.
Nancy Ruegg says
Wonderful insights, Kristen: “[Scripture] doesn’t say have courage, it says take courage,” and “Bravery is not the absence of fear but following God through the fear as you believe God’s promises.” Thank you for the strong encouragement!
Candace Lee says
Dear Kristen
I cried through the whole post! I haven’t read encourage for months! But today I read yours. I get to the point of being so weary and tired of “existing” rather than living. The last 5 years I went into a major relapse of a chronic disease filled with unrelenting fatigue, brain fog, coupled with severe back pain. There is no cure or treatment. I live a a roller coaster ride never knowing from day to day , if I will be able to get out of bed, and when I do, what i will be able to do hour to hour. In the beginning I had high hopes of recovery. Now I fear and experience a slow tortuous existence filled with much loneliness due to isolation. I am a senior and I live alone. 2016 was the worst year thus far and I basically shut down and shut God out as I felt he had abandoned me. I know what scripture says, but I wandered into the deserted wilderness. I couldn’t muster myself to draw near to God, but knowing it was a season and eventually it would pass. This last month, a stirring in my heart has begun and I am making baby steps back. I was very vulnerable and in a bluesy mood today, and this am’s devo and now tonight, yours has pierced my heart and I find myself just crying, pouring out my anguish and unknowns for tomorrow. I know God is telling me he hasn’t forgotten me. thank you, Candace