Behaving Valiantly

I have been away from the church for what seems like a very long time. I have been on the go for several weeks. This week I find myself out in the woods of Ft McCoy once again. We are conducting premobilization tasks and we are getting those boxes checked in preparation for our upcoming deployment. I have gone through several bouts of doubt and uncertanty this week. I am new to my job as a chaplain, new to the infantry and very aware that my status as a noncombatant in a unit that is full of combat experts makes me stand out.

One of the Amry Values is personal Courage, the ability to face fear, danger or adversity weather physical or moral. I have been asking myself what will keep me in the fight when it comes. It will not be my combat training, my military weapons, or my indepth experience. They are not what brought me here. It will be be Christ, the Scriptures and the spiritual weapons of our faith (2Cor 10:4).

The first weapon I have recognized for my arsonal is an attitude, like Christ, that humbly receives instead of openly rejects whatever comes. We often look at the negative as though it were an intruder. What we need to hold onto is the truth that happiness comes from overcoming, not avoiding difficult situations. The cross was not the only option for Jesus but through it lay God's very best.

The second weapon is the ability to respond verses react to situations. Whenever we simply react mechanically we are functioning at a subhuman level. God has uniquely gifted us with the capacity to think and to choose what is right and wrong. As individuals we can respond; that is we can project into any situation something that is the unique contribution of our personality, our creativity, or our spirituality. This was Christ's frame of mind when he spoke of returning good for evil.

The third and last weapon is the wisdom to rejoice instead of rebel. Rejoice that God will never stop until our understanding of ourselves matches His picture of us. We can rejoice that He is determined to show us what we are made of. We can rejoice knowing that "tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Rom 5:3-4).

Personal courage is not a gift you are born with. It is a decision that we choose to develop and grow in. Fear is normal, faith is supernatural.

The next time you are challenged in your spirit to stand-up, stand-out, or stand-down I think that it will help you to recognize that every hero, every person who ends up acting valiantly does so because they at some point choose what was right, not easy, for their life.