I have no fear of heights, and love to stand on the edge of a cliff.  I’ve stuffed snakes in my pockets, let spiders walk on my arms, and once had a pet mouse that would sit on my shoulder.  Darkness doesn’t bother me, especially after countless trips out of the mountains in inky darkness.  I’ve almost managed to get past my fear of public speaking, in English and now in Russian.

But I am a coward compared to Mary*.

Mary is a meek, mousy, nervous girl at the Freedom Home.  Her story of trafficking is typical: no parents, raised in a Moldovan orphanage, naïve, and susceptible.  She experienced plenty of horrors during the time she was trafficked.  She came needing a refuge from her trafficker, a safe place to hide and to heal.  The trafficker was on trial, and it wasn’t safe for her to go out in any public transportation.  She was nervous about everything.

But this is one courageous girl.

We found out the extent three weeks ago when her trafficker was sentenced to prison.  We then learned that when our meek Mary returned to Moldova, she had confronted the man, wearing a hidden wire.  She was able to get his own words on tape.  Ka-ching!  She nailed him!

I look at this girl now and all I see is courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, but it is pushing past those fears and doing something.  Or as a wise sage once said, “Courage is being scared to death – but saddling up anyway.” (John Wayne).

It does not take courage if you have no fear.  Courage is acting despite our fears.

Some are afraid to trust God with finances so they never tithe or give sacrificially.
Some are afraid to be honest with themselves so they stay stranded in spiritual and emotional immaturity.
Some are afraid to trust God’s direction so they never obey God’s call on their life.
Some are afraid of transparency and openness and their marriages and relationships suffer.

What are your fears? Afraid to admit you are wrong or that your heart isn’t as pure as you portray?  Afraid to trust and obey what God is asking you to do?  Are you afraid to ask someone to forgive you, or to have that hard talk with someone who hurt you?  Are you afraid to serve or minister because it is outside your comfort zone (or country)?

Courage is admitting your fears, but not letting those fears stop your action.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Is. 41:10

Striving to be like Mary,

Andy Raatz