Be brave …
Being brave was not natural for me. I was more of the cautious child. I wanted to know that I could succeed before I tried. But I have learned over the years, that you will not get very far if you don’t try. Years ago I was challenged to be brave.
I had gone to a Women’s retreat reunion. The format for the next retreat would be to have the women from our church do the speaking. I volunteered. I felt a God whisper. He was whispering “be brave.” So I knew it was time to share my story or at least part of it. I had a mentor. Her name was Donna. She always pointed towards the Bible for answers. I had never met anyone who immediately looked to the Word. When I told her I was speaking, she said find your verse. Focus on that verse and how it pertains to your story.
This was new to me. I took her advice and prayed. Through prayer, God led me to 1 John 1:7, “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” I had walked in the dark for many years. Twenty-nine years to be exact. I finally was in the light. I didn’t have to walk around in darkness or shame anymore. Because of His blood that purified me. Yes, this was my verse.
I began preparing the rest of my talk. It was tough. I wrote down in detail what happened in college. When I read it over again, I was like, ‘there is no way I can say this.’ But God urged me to be brave. I did not look at the paper again until I gave my talk.
It was time …
Donna drove up to support me. We prayed together. I took out the yellow lined paper and read it word for word in front of 80+ women. It was like an out-of-body experience. I remember looking at the clock and realizing it was time to wrap up. Mind you, I was talking this entire time. So I closed and read the verse again. I now needed to have fellowship with others. I challenged the women to be transparent, taking off the mask. This is vital in my Christian walk. I need to be in fellowship and surrounded by other Christians to keep me in check and love me along the way.
The healing that occurred by sharing a small part of my story was astronomical. God had taken that dark hidden spot in my heart and healed it for good. I am in the light. I thank God for His Son, who cleanses me from sin. “Be brave,” He whispers, “Be brave.”