The root word of courage is cour, from the French word for heart, denoting the heart as the seat of feelings. The Oxford dictionary defines courage as: the ability to do what frightens one; strength in the face of pain or grief.

The unknown in every new life situation brings an element of fear, such as when a child starts school, or when an adult starts a new job, or moves to a new community. Health concerns often cause fear, whether it be our own health or when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer.

The friend whose funeral we attended yesterday was an example of courage in the face of pain. He lived for years with a cancer that doctors could do nothing for. Pain was a constant companion, some days worse than others, and much more intense in the last two weeks of his life. He prayed for release from the pain, yet through it all remained a gentle and caring man.

There have been times in the past when one put his life, and the life of his family, in danger when he chose to follow the way of Jesus Christ. That is still true in some countries. Around 400 years ago, a European Christian who had been tortured for his faith wrote to his fellow believers: “I considered myself a weak brother, that I would never be able to bear the pain. But when I was tortured, the Lord was with me and took away the pain”.

Such a testimony should assure us of the sufficiency of God’s grace. We won’t experience the fulness of the grace of God that is available to us before we need it. When we need it, it’s always sufficient, whatever the need, and that grace is the source of our courage.