Finding Brave Hearts

Life is risky sometimes. It's an uphill battle against the come-easy things, like selfishness, and faint hearts. It's a battle against Self. And the sword gets heavy. I look down at my weak hands, feel my feeble heartbeat. I doubt my ability to be brave and faithful, to completely die to self when things don't go my way. It's daunting when pride and self-love choke, fear of what others think creeps in, hearts ache and circumstances threaten to drown; when having a brave heart is hard, and being a coward is so...easy. It's much easier to put down the sword and give in.

But there is the problem: That is not life, according to Life Himself. And He calls us to life.

"I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly."

-John 10:10

Abundant life. And that means swimming upstream. As G.K. Chesterton put it:

A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.

It's easy to go with the flow. To just do what comes naturally since the Fall. To buy the world's "wisdom." To be discontent. Proud. Jealous. Fearful. Despairing. Rebellious. Exploitative. In other words, to live for self. I don't know about you, but no one had to teach me how to be selfish. It comes easy.

But the truth is...to live for yourself is the easy way.

It's cowardly.

It takes a brave heart to go against the flow. To be selfless.

Nothing is more difficult than to forsake all carnal thoughts, to subdue and renounce our false appetites, and to devote ourselves to God and our brethren, and to live the life of angels in a world of corruption.

-John Calvin

But it can be done. Just not alone.

[The Lord] wants those who belong to Him to be brave and fearless. He shows us Himself how weakness of the flesh is overcome by courage of the Spirit. This is the testimony of the apostles and in particular of the representative administrating Spirit. A Christian is fearless. (Emphasis mine)

-Tertullian

Think of the people you most admire and respect. They probably aren't very selfish. The strongest women I know are the most submissive and selfless. They are no doormats; they are lionesses, princesses in invisible tiaras. The strongest men I know are the most gentle and servant-hearted. They are no wimps; they are warriors and kings. The bravest knight has the softest heart.

painting by N.C. Wyeth

They follow the True King, Jesus Christ, Who came to serve and not be served. They pour their lives out for the weak and despised, the widows and fatherless, the disabled, poor and needy, for their families and communities, for the Kingdom of Christ. And they find their life abundantly. They fight for victory against The World, The Flesh and The Devil. These are true heroes. They are brave and strong...precisely because they know they aren't.

What?

“Welcome, Prince,” said Aslan. “Do you feel yourself sufficient to take up the Kingship of Narnia?”

“I - I don't think I do, Sir,” said Caspian. “I'm only a kid.”

“Good,” said Aslan. “If you had felt yourself sufficient, it would have been a proof that you were not…”

Prince Caspian – Ch. 15

They are weak. But He is strong. I'm not strong enough or brave enough to fight the good fight...alone. "But thanks be to God Who always leads us in triumph in Christ!" (2 Cor. 2:14) God gives His children His own brave heart through His Spirit. Like Caspian looking into the eyes of the Lion, doubt your ability, and trust His instead. He is strong enough to enable us, weak and unfit as we are, to do brave things for His Kingdom. Not alone.

We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and acts in and through us in ways that on our own we are not capable of. This is our purpose. This is our hope. (Emphasis mine)

-Francis Chan in "Forgotten God"

I continually need a brave heart, to know my insufficiency and His all-sufficiency, to be emptied of me and filled with the fullness of Him who fills all in all, to die to self and find Life abundant. It's an uphill battle, but victory at the top will be worth it. Broken hearts will be bound up, and battle wounds will be healed. The brave know, and they press on for the joy set before them. Not alone.

Do you need a brave heart too? Keep your eyes on Him alone - He is the one with the Brave Heart, who's name is Faithful, and it's only from Him you will find a brave heart.

"You have listened to fears, Child,” said Aslan. “Come, let me breathe on you. Forget them. Are you brave again?"

Prince Caspian - Ch. 11 : The Lion Roars

Listen to His heartbeat and take heart.

-audrey