Courage, Not Fear

By Willa Johnson

Fear in every aspect of our lives. War. Economy. Environment. Tragedies. It’s little wonder people are turning off the news reports and not reading the newspapers. Enough already! Right? When is it going to end?

My heart aches for families who are separated because of the war and especially for those who have lost loved ones or have been maimed. I can understand why some are saying, “It’s not worth it!” However, I am reminded of the men who fought to form “a more perfect union” over 232 years ago.

It has been decades since I studied our nation’s beginning history so I checked the Internet to refresh my memory. One thought struck me, it could not have been easy just traveling from Maine to Georgia to finalize the Declaration of Independence. Of the 13 colonies, there were nine men who were not born in America They had left England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, seeking a better life. Out of the 56 signers, some were lawyers (self-trained among them), teachers, physicians, farmers and merchants. They were the cross section of the country then. The youngest, Edward Rutledge, was only 26 years old while Benjamin Franklin was 70. Our second and third presidents, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, were among the signers.

The actual document was first drafted in June and on July 2, 1776 was finalized (just as the British were arriving in New York) and presented June 4, 1776. It wasn’t until August all signers had added their signatures. Congress, sitting in Baltimore, Maryland on January 18, 1777 ordered the signed copies of the document be sent to all the states.

Where is the courage today to fight for the freedom they gave their all to give us? They must have had the following scriptures in mind to be willing to risk dying for their beliefs.

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:6

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

And one of my favorite verses is found in the center of the whole Bible: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Psalm 118:8

Yes, times are rough right now on every turn. This is when we need to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding.” Proverb 3:5

Willa Johnson writes from Phoenix, Oregon. wjhat@ccountry.com