Copyright Page
2019, 2020 by Carolyn Larsen
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Combined edition published 2022
ISBN 978-0-8007-4097-9 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4934-3434-3 (ebook)
Previously published in two separate volumes:
Words of Courage for Women 2020
Words of Hope for Women 2019
Ebook edition created 2022
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Baker Publishing Group publications use paper produced from sustainable forestry practices and post-consumer waste whenever possible.
Words of Courage for Women
The Source of Courage
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The L ORD , the L ORD himself, is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
I SAIAH 12:2
W hy does fear take root in your heart? Are you afraid you cant withstand temptations or that you wont be able to stand against Satans attacks? When you invite Jesus into your heart, he becomes your strength to stand against all frightening things. He becomes your shield against danger and your defender against all enemies.
God promises in his Word to always be with you. Read that again: always ! Hes the source of your courage. Allow his strength to fill your heart so you can face whatever is before you. Never doubt his power because, after all, he promised it to you.
What can you do when anxiety threatens to paralyze your heart? Push the fear away by focusing on God. Read Scripture. Remind yourself of how he has strengthened and protected you in the past, and remind yourself that his powerful presence is still with you. Step confidently into your day, and refuse to cower in fear.
Start each day by renewing your courage through the quietness of prayer and through rest in God. Ask him to fill your heart with an awareness of his power and presence and to bolster your courage through that knowledge.
Perfect Love
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 J OHN 4:18
F ear is an interesting emotion. Even when you try to have courage, fear wiggles its way into your heart, similar to the way water manages to leak through the smallest opening. A little anxiety is certainly normal because life does have its tense moments and... youre human. However, all-consuming fear and trust in Gods love cannot exist in your heart at the same time. If you truly believe that God loves you, why are you afraid?
Gods love is perfect. What does that mean to you? Perfect love is deep, pure, constant, steady, forgiving, trustworthy, dependable, protective, sacrificial, and a multitude of other adjectives. Perfect love... there is nothing wrong with it and nothing to criticize about it. Grasping, believing, and trusting in Gods perfect love for you helps push away fear because you know God is protecting you and guiding your decisions and steps. He loves you perfectly, so there is no reason to fear. Take courage in his love. Ask God to help your love for him grow deeper so that you have a greater understanding of his care for you.
Guarded
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
P SALM 139:5
Y ouve probably seen photos of celebrities out in public, surrounded by security guards theyve hired to protect them. They have a wall of guards around them to make certain no one gets too close. The guards protect their employer on all sides and constantly evaluate the crowd for any situation that might bring danger to them.
Maybe you cant afford to hire bodyguards to protect you wherever you go. But heres some news: you have the best bodyguard imaginableGod! The psalmist says God is in front of you and behind you. Nothing and no one gets close to you without God knowing about it. And not only is he protecting you in front and in back, but he also has his hand on your shoulder, guiding your steps and making sure you dont fall, much like a loving parent who helps a child cross a busy street.
It is amazing to know that God loves you so much that he protects you, guards you, and guides you. He cares about what happens to you every moment of the day. When anxiety begins to rear its ugly head, remember that you are well guarded. Trust your Bodyguard!
The Love of a Father
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sons h ip. And by him we cry, Abba, Father.
R OMANS 8:15
N ot every human father is a good father, and if you havent had a good father, that may influence how you perceive God as Father. If thats true for you, read the following description of God as your good Father:
Your good Father wants the best for you. Yes, sometimes that may mean he disciplines you because thats what a good father does in order to help you learn and grow.
Your good Father watches out for you. He does all he can to protect you, day in and day out.
Your good Father delights in you. He enjoys your laughter. He takes pleasure in your enjoyment of all he provides for you, from the world he has made to the friends and family he has given you. Enjoy it all!
Your good Father is forgiving. Dont be afraid to confess your sins to him. He wont turn away in disgust. He wont turn away at all. He forgives you and offers a multitude of opportunities for you to get life right, even as he teaches and guides you.
You neednt ever be afraid of your good Father; in fact, you can be brave and courageous in the knowledge that you are your Fathers child and that he loves you more than you can imagine.
Just for This Time
If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your fathers family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?
E STHER 4:14
I t takes courage to tackle some of the challenges that come your way in life. Some of those challenges arise from tasks God calls you to handle. Has God given you a job that feels too big or too dangerous or even beyond what you have the capability to accomplish?
Queen Esther felt that way. The task before her was very dangerous. She could have been killed for doing what she was asked to do. If she was successful, she would save the Jewish nation. If she wasnt, they would die and so would she.
What can you learn from Esther? She accepted the challenge but asked her people to pray for her. She didnt go into the challenge without their prayer support. Esther accepted the reality that facing this challenge might have been the very reason God put her on earth: For such a time as this.
God has a purpose for your lifework he wants you to do for his kingdom. He wont send you into that work without walking beside you and equipping you with what you need. The prayer support of others certainly strengthens you too. You arent alone, so be courageous and go boldly into what God calls you to do.
The Hardest Thing
Wait for the L ORD ;