Be Brave
Introduction
Over the last several weeks we have talked a lot about fear what is it, what the bible says, fear is a liar, overcoming it. What we haven’t really covered is being brave. This song by Sara Bareilles is all about being brave and not holding back what needs to be said. The video is embedded below or listen on your favorite streaming service.
Lets dive in and look at the Biblical principles we can glean from this song.
Words Hurt
The first verse reminds us of the power or words. Writers always say that the pen is mightier than the sword and they are so right. What we say has unimaginable power both to hurt and to heal. Sometimes we are so afraid to speak that it gets bottled up and all those feelings with it. If you continue to bottle tings up eventually the bottle is full and you explode with little control over how they pent up feelings come out. The reminder of this entire song is not to bottle those things up and let them out. Though I will say there are positive ways of expressing things and not so positive ways and its always best to try to find a positive or constructive way of expressing yourself.
Don’t Let the Enemy Win
We all have enemies usually sometimes they are people in our lives other times it is something more abstract like fear though fear is often personified. In recent weeks we’ve talked a lot about fear. Most recently how to overcome fear and achieve the great things God has planned for us. Its something that we need constant reminding of that we can defeat fear by doing it anyway. Don’t fall for his lies, rely wholly on the voice of Truth that says “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Ephesians 3:14, ESV).” We can rest in knowing that with Christ’s death and resurrection the war is won but the daily battles still need to be fought. We have all the tools we need including the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17). Through prayer and daily study we hone our weapons and becoming more comfortable telling the enemy to be gone.
Say What Needs to be Said
If there is something that you feel needs to be said, say it. Say it with love as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing (13:1-3, ESV).” We are human we will disagree with one another but if we approach the situation with love and understanding we can accomplish so much. Never be afraid to speak up but always consider your motivation and how you approach what you need to say. As the saying goes you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
End the Silence
Finally, end the silence. Say what needs to be said with love. Don’t hold back any longer. You may find that what you feel led to say however difficult for you is exactly what someone has been waiting to hear. Don’t fail them by chickening out. Our stories and testimonies are powerful in that they show others that they are not alone and that it is possible to get through the difficult times and come out into something truly beautiful.
