How can I have courage in the storm?
This past week, in what I had planned to be the conclusion to my study on the life of Paul and his ministry, I read the book of 2 Timothy. I honestly cannot find the words to describe how deeply this letter touched my soul. As my eyes moved over the words, I envisioned this elderly man, sitting in a dark and grungy dungeon, beaten, battered, and chained by people who wanted to stop him from spreading the news of Christ. From the content of the letter, we can conclude that he knows his life is about to end. He details in 2 Timothy 4:6-7, “… the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course…” (KJV). And yet, knowing his time on earth is about to end, Paul is writing a letter of encouragement to Timothy, a man he loves as his own son. Paul is not wallowing in his physical pain or whining about his imprisonment. The letter contains no ‘woe is me’ pity party. Instead, Paul is using his last hours to cultivate Timothy’s faith and inspire him to use the gifts God has given to him.
With this image playing out in my mind, my stomach churned and shook. Pondering on the scene, I couldn’t help but think how I would react in the same situation. How could Paul be so encouraging and write words with such clarity and with a clear mind? How was his present situation not pressing him and pinning his thoughts to the ground, consuming him with grief? The answer was right there in the letter to Timothy. Paul states, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (KJV). Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was not afraid for he knew what was ahead of him was not of this world. He declares in 2 Timothy 4:8 without a hint of doubt, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day…” (KJV). Paul was fully aware that this world was not his home and filled with the Holy Spirit, his mind was clear as he wrote heartfelt words of love and encouragement.
As I noted in the opening sentence, I had planned to finish my study of Paul with my reading of 2 Timothy and then move back to the Old Testament and dig into the Chronicles. But my plans changed. I felt the need to read the book of Acts again, wanting to engrain the timeline of events in my mind. And there it was… right there in Acts 4… the follow-up to the message that had grabbed hold of me in 2 Timothy. Peter and John are being questioned by the same authorities that condemned Jesus to die. Despite what he knows these people are capable of doing to him, Peter proclaims the name of Jesus without hesitation (See Acts 4:7-10 KJV). How does Peter speak with such boldness? Luke tells us in Acts 4:8, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost…” (KJV).
I chose to add 2 Timothy 1:7 to my spiritual armor, so I can readily remind myself that God does not give a spirit of fear. I hope you will join me this week in memorizing this verse and saying it aloud each day.
(Earlier this week, I received a text from my Warrior Sister. She had no idea the verse I had chosen to memorize… so you can imagine my reaction when the image she sent contained 2 Timothy 1:7. Talk about God confirming a message in my heart. Wow. I am still in awe.)
