The only use of an obstacle is to be overcome. All that an obstacle does with brave men is, not to frighten them, but to challenge them.

My grandson, Jax, was at the beach with my wife, Kristin and some of our kids.  She came home and told be a really cool story.

Jax, at the wonderful age of 16 months is learning all the joys of the beach.  He doesn’t really want to get into the water. Yet, he learned if he walks down the beach, he can meet everybody…he gets “oohs,” “aahs, and sometimes he just helps them eat their food.   As “the mayor” (one of my nicknames for him) was on his walk, he saw two boys who would start at the water’s edge and run into the water, throwing them into the water with a splash.  Then, they would get up and run back out to the edge.  They would do this over and over again.

Jax was mesmerized by this.  He found himself wanting to run into the water.  He would run in and stop at the water’s edge. Then, he would go back and do it again but get all the way to his ankles.  Then, his shins. Then higher up the shins.  As he did this, the mom of the two boys looked at Kristin and said, “Sometimes, they need each other to be brave.”

Wow!  That is an amazing observation.   We get brave when we someone else is involved. Maybe you have an obstacle than is staring you in the face.  It is challenging you and you are stuck.  I encourage you to find someone who is “ahead of you” in the journey who has faced it.  Ask questions – how did they beat it? Find out what did or didn’t work for them. Become a student of those who are “pioneers” in that situation.  In other words, few challenges are unique.  Others have faced them and their journey can give you the wisdom and experience you are looking for to launch yours.

Finally, there is a great song by Amanda Cook, Bethel Music called “You Make Me Brave.” Beyond other’s experience, God will make you brave.  Just knowing that He is with you and that you do not go alone can give you the courage you need to take the next step.  The chorus of this song is:

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises you made
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way

Great words.  Great Challenge.  Be Brave!