Words of Worship: You Make Me Brave

Over the years a string of movies have been made with the word ‘brave’ in the title. Braveheart, The Brave Little Toaster, Home of the Brave, and more. But do you remember the animated movie Brave? A young woman with vibrant red hair is the first born and heir to a throne, and when her parents search for a suitor to win a place at her side, she stands up and fights for her own heart. Now that felt brave to me, and the title seemed fitting.

In the Bible, a host of characters, in my opinion, could easily be considered brave: Daniel who trusted the Lord in the lion’s den, David who stepped up to fight Goliath, Mary who said yes to God’s plan for her life. But sometimes we forget that the people in the Bible were just like us, human and flawed and probably a little bit scared. Remember Moses? When God first told him to go ask Pharaoh to let his people go, he stammered and protested with a laundry list of reasons he wasn’t good enough.

Then what did He do? He went anyway.

Bravery, by definition, means that someone is “ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.” To be brave that doesn’t mean we have to be perfect or without fear or hesitation, it simply means we have to choose to go, choose to say yes, or choose to trust. Luckily we serve a God that is trustworthy and good, and who won’t abandon us to our task.

Today’s page is inspired by one of my favorite songs that encouraged my heart in a season of the unknown. “You Make Me Brave” by Bethel Music recalls the scripture where Jesus is walking on water and calls Peter out to join Him. By his own strength, Peter would have drowned, but he stayed afloat and above the waves so long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. What a sight that must have been!

The following lyrics of the song are, perhaps, my favorite:

I have heard You calling my name
I have heard the song of love that You sing
So I will let You draw me out beyond the shore
Into Your grace
Your grace
You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way

He is the one who makes us brave. He is the one who enables us to step out in faith, to follow His lead, and to see the joy in the difficult days. He calls us out but He provides a way. Ask him to make you brave today, friends. Let 2 Timothy 1:7 bring you courage, “for He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”