The Courage of Our Convictions - Part 2

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen
your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
Psalm 31:24

When we start to talk about the importance of having the courage to live out our convictions, maybe looking at what happens when the needed courage is missing will help us to understand. In every situation where there is a difference between what we believe and the reality of our lives, a gap forms, a dangerous gap that can get filled in with the wrong things over time.

Kyle Idleman said this on the subject: “When actions violate convictions, a general sense of fatigue and frustration begins to mark one’s life.” When a gap exists between how we are living and the convictions of our heart, frustration with ourselves and fatigue because of the internal struggle come rushing in to the gap that exists. Jesus said something very similar about deliverance when He warned that if a person delivered didn’t fill the void left in their life, then the enemy would return in even greater force. The gap between action and belief cannot be the status quo in our lives because that gap will eventually get filled in.

And it’s not only us who are affected. Idleman went on to say, “If your life isn’t aligned with your convictions, it’s only a matter of time before your frustration with yourself spills over onto others and you become a hard person to live with.” The courage to live out our convictions, our core beliefs, is essential to our well being and to the well being of those around us.

God stirred Joshua to “be strong and very courageous” for his own good. And Joshua years later stirred the people in the same way saying, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.” Billy Graham said, “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” And C. S. Lewis added this: “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but courage is the form of every virtue at its testing point.”

The courage to ……….. I’ll let you fill in the blank, but find the courage in any area of life where your convictions and your life don’t line up and you’ll be the better off for it. Even the American Heart Association, a secular group, agrees, saying, “Examine your values and live by them. The more your actions reflect your beliefs, the better you will feel.” Let’s start to close any gaps that exist between convictions and reality, and close the door to frustration and fatigue.

God bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church