I've been support-raising for about 5 weeks now. Three weeks in Pittsburgh. Two weeks at home. I've met and talked with a lot of people by this point. And as I meet with people, there's something that I keep hearing- people keep remarking about how brave I must be. Brave to be moving to a new culture where I don't know the language or customs. Brave to be leaving home to live in the Middle East. Brave to be doing something completely different from what I just spent 4 years studying in college (No, I probably won't be doing any neuroscience while I'm abroad). But I don't feel brave.
What is bravery anyways? Merriam-Webster says that it is "the quality that allows someone to do something that is dangerous or frightening". Okay, well then what is considered dangerous? Again, Mr. Merriam and Mr. Webster help us out: "Danger: the possibility that something unpleasant or bad will happen". Alright, so bravery is doing something even when there could be a negative result.
I guess I am brave. I'm jumping into something (6000 miles away) with a lot of unknowns. But I'm not the only brave one. My supporters are brave for sacrificing time and resources to be a part of God's work in the Middle East. My team is brave for continually welcoming new members. My parents are brave for letting their child travel so far from home. People are brave all the time in their daily lives. It is bravery when we enter college and have to learn how to live in a brand new environment, and then do it again when we graduate college. It is bravery when we take on new tasks and responsibilities at work, and when we invest in new relationships. It is bravery when hardship hits and we keep on living. Bravery is an inherent part of life.
I might seem brave, but so are you. We all encounter dangerous and frightening things. But those things don't have to paralyze us with fear. One of my favorite verses is Deuteronomy 31:8- "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." No matter what I encounter in the Middle East, God will always be right there with me. He is always in control and I can rest easy because I know that God is more loving and forgiving and good than I will ever be able to comprehend.
So don't forget that you too are brave. And you are loved. And you are never alone.