Where to find courage when facing a task much bigger than yourself
I was recently thinking back to when Helping Hands In Africa was one pot of soup and 40 children. Now we are a multiple staff, multiple country ministry serving thousands of beneficiaries. The enormity of what we do on a daily basis can be quite scary sometimes.
This fear brings me to my knees seeking courage to face the task that is clearly much bigger than myself.In order to rest in God's peace and allow the awesomeness of where we are as a ministry to inspire me rather than make me fearful, I need courage.So, where do I find this courage?
- I find courage when I am quiet and still before God. ( In body and in mind)
- Or, sometimes when my courage fails me, I walk in one of our villages and see the devastation of AIDS. A deep anger rises up and I find my courage.
- And I find an enormous source of courage in the team that God has surrounded me with in ministry.
It has been my observation that God has this tendency to give us tasks that are way bigger than ourselves. I believe He wants us to learn to:
- be courageous
- lean on Him first and foremost
- lean on others
- allow others to safely lean on us
Nowadays, when recruiting staff, all sorts of fancy words are used to attract people to a job. But in days gone by the simple phrase "HELP WANTED" was posted. I think a great two-word job description is "just help".Each time Helping Hands In Africa has added staff it is because we needed help... and that is exactly what we got. Our team is willing to help with whatever it takes. They are more than employees, they are helpers. Helpers of:
- our ministry and
- helpers of each other.
That gives me tremendous courage because as Senior Missions Pastor, I don't have all the answers. In fact, I don't even know all the questions. But with the kind of helpers we have on our team of staff, volunteers and partners, I am confident that
- we will ask the hard questions and
- together set about finding the right answers.
And that gives me courage - the fact that we set out together, as a team.When we are faced with a task much bigger than ourself, it is normal and, in fact, very likely that we will feel afraid. It takes courage to overcome that fear. And yes, God uses a number of ways to help us find courage.For me, one of the places I find courage is in the team God has sent my way. To my delight and immense satisfaction I have discovered that as I support and help the team it gives them courage which results in them supporting and helping me, which gives me courage - thus both completing and starting the cycle all over again."Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9Question: Where do you find courage when facing a task much bigger than yourself? Enter into the discussion by leaving a comment below.