“But I’ve discovered that many of us have some voices of comfort in our lives yet what we really need is a voice of courage. We may feel the need for sympathy when what we really need is strength.”- Kyle Idleman
In the Introduction to his latest book, Don’t Give Up: Faith That Gives You the Confidence to Keep Believing and the Courage to Keep Going, Kyle Idleman begins with a thought-provoking question. Pastor Idleman asks: “If there’s one thing you would change in your life, what would it be?”
Yet, Kyle observes, regardless of your story, he’d most likely offer the same words of encouragement. Words Kyle needs to hear as well. Don’t give up. Because there’s a universal need to hear these words. And they offer more than comfort. They offer courage.
However, how someone hears the words don’t give up varies with specific situations. For example, Pastor Idleman notes, someone walking out on a relationship needs to hear it differently than the person who’s walked out on.
Furthermore, the tone of voice differs as well. Sometimes, when we feel like throwing in the towel, we want Mr. Rogers knocking on our door. In reality, though, we need William Wallace from the movie Braveheart. Probably, the author adds, we need a little of both. The blue sweater guy and the blue face guy. Pastor Idleman explains:
“When we’re right on the edge of quitting, when we’re broken down, when we feel utterly overwhelmed, comfort may sustain us but courage is often what we need to move forward. It gets us taking back the ground we’ve lost in battle. Let’s call it by another name: encouragement. . . . Encouragement is a battle cry. It’s a call to move, to act, to advance.”
Today’s question: Who provides a voice of courage in your life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Witnesses with real words of power”
