I love movies, but I generally only love movies that are “feel good.” My life is stressful enough that when I get a chance to watch a movie I really don’t want to think…be scared…or tense. I just want to walk away with a big smile on my face.
With that in mind one of my favorite movies is We Bought a Zoo. In the movie widowed dad Benjamin Mee, played by Matt Damon, is working to instill a sense of courage and adventure in his children. They are dealing with a great loss and a big transition in their lives, so Benjamin feels the responsibility of equipping his children to tackle life head on. He sums up this philosophy in one of my favorite scenes (I’ve watched this scene a hundred times) by saying to his son,
“What you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”
One of the most common commands throughout Scripture is “Be courageous.” So I want to encourage you today to tap into a courage that only comes when we trust God to give us the power to do the right thing.
I’m talking about things like telling the truth… because that takes courage.
I’m talking about a single parent trying to raise a child… that takes courage.
I’m talking about a young lady who ends up with an unwanted pregnancy, who knows that abortion is the easier way, but instead gives birth to the child and puts her baby up for adoption… because that takes courage.
I’m talking about someone who finally has the guts to ask for help… because that takes courage.
I’m talking about loving someone that everyone else has characterized as unloving… because that takes courage.
I”m talking about a person whose never tithed before, never trusted God with their finances, finally trusting God in that area… because that takes courage.
Becoming the man or woman God has called us to be takes a tremendous amount of courage. Praying that today you’ll find 20 seconds of insane courage.
