Facing Fear with
Courage
By Fred Wikoff
I’ve always disagreed
with the definition that courage is facing danger or opposition without
fear. Any reckless foolhardy soul can do
that. I learned from childhood that real
courage is the ability to face threats or conflicts in spite of fear.
Lately a sagging
economy and numerous corporate failures have caused widespread uncertainty and
fear for the future of our national economy.
Such fear can immobilize individuals and bring an entire nation to its
knees. That’s why it’s always important to use every means at our disposal to
fight the fear of failure.
One way to do this is
to review the records of great Americans who have succeeded in spite of
fear. We are all familiar with President
Roosevelt attempt to bolster the nation’s courage during the depression with
the plea “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” But another great American actually built a
lifetime of success out of his failures and defeats. That he did, not only testifies to his courage
in repeatedly overcoming the fear of failure, but points to the secret of his
enduring greatness. Abram Lincoln’s
record is as follows:
Lost job 1832.
Defeated for
legislature 1832.
Failed in business
1833.
Elected to legislature
1834.
Sweetheart died 1835.
Nervous breakdown
1836.
Defeated for Speaker
1838.
Defeated for
nomination for Congress 1843.
Elected to Congress
1846.
Lost re-nomination
1848.
Rejected for land
officer 1849.
Defeated for Senate
1854.
Defeated for
nomination for Vice-President 1856.
Again defeated for
Senate 1858.
Elected President
1860. (“Failure Isn’t Fatal” by James Keller, M.M.; in William Nichols Words to Live By)
It’s difficult to
believe that anyone could succeed in the face of so many failures. But Abram Lincoln’s avid faith in God gave
him the courage and strength to overcome failures that would have devastated
most people. He also believed he had a
mission to fulfill. For after becoming
president he was heard to say, “God selects his own instruments, and sometimes
they are queer ones; for instance, He chose me to steer the ship through a
great crisis.”
We can all learn from
Lincoln’s courage and deep faith in God.
And like Lincoln, we Christians also have a mission. Christ has chosen us to make the truth of his
presence known in a world of darkness and disbelief. (See John 15:16)
Yes, the economy is
down. Jobs are scarce. And the enemy will use these bad times as
well as every other means to discourage us.
But what is a better time to share Christ with others? Christ tells us in times like this not to be
anxious about our finances: “but seek
first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as
well.” Matthew 6:33
It will not be
easy. But if there’s ever a time to
gather our courage, conquer fear, and show the world the truth of Christ’s
love, it’s now.
“For it is God’s will that by doing right you should put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men.” 1Peter 2:15
Fred Wikoff writes from Eugene, Oregon. EugeneSpud@msn.com