Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 529 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Be Courageous - The Tools in Gramps' Backpack


Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 529 of our trek, and we are hiking a series of trails called The Tools in Gramps’ Backpack.

Each Monday for a total of 20 weeks, we will explore a different tool that is needed to equip parents and grandparents to train their children and grandchildren to be successful on their trek of life. If you don’t have children or grandchildren of your own, use these tools to train others that you do influence. Today the fourth tool from Gramps’ Backpack is Courage.


We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio.

On our trek of life, we will have some days where everything seems to be going smoothly. Other days we will face steep uphill climbs, and the trail will become so rough that it is hard to navigate. It takes courage to continue on when it is difficult to see the path in front of you and your footing becomes unstable. This is why one of the most valuable tools in Gramps’ backpack is…
Courage
Courage is an important tool for building better days and better lives. King David in his instruction to his son Solomon told him in 1 Chronicles 28:20, "Then David continued, 'Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.'"

Every human life is a tapestry of events – some grand, some not-so-grand, and some downright disheartening. When we reach the mountaintops of life, praising God is easy. In our moments of triumph, we trust God’s plan. When the storm clouds form overhead, and we find ourselves in the dark valley of despair, our faith is stretched, sometimes to the breaking point. As Christ followers, we can be comforted. Whenever we find ourselves, whether at the top of the mountain or the depths of the valley, God is there, and because He cares for us, we can live courageously.

A.W. Tozer explained it like this, “The truth of Christ brings assurance, and so removes the former problem of fear and uncertainty.”

Believing Christians have every reason to be courageous. After all, the ultimate battle has already been fought and won on the cross at Calvary. Even dedicated followers of Christ may find their courage tested by the inevitable disappointments and tragedies that occur in the lives of believers and non-believers alike.

The next time you find your courage tested to the limit, remember that God is as near as your next breath, and remember that He offers salvation to His children. He is your shield and your strength; He is your protector and your deliverer. Call upon Him in your hour of need, and then be comforted. Whatever your challenge, whatever your trouble, God can handle it, and He will.

Jesus showed his deep concern for others at all times, as expressed in Luke 8:50, "But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, 'Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.'"

As Christ followers, we should be some of the most courageous people on earth. We may not know what the future holds for us individually, but we certainly know who holds the future. D.L. Moody put it this way, “Take courage. We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow.”

Chuck Swindoll gives us this word of exhortation, “Our Lord is searching for people who will make a difference.  Christians dare not dissolve into the background or blend into the neutral scenery of the world.”