I was recently watching the movie ‘Back to the future’ – again!
Having travelled back in time, there’s a big part of the story where Marty is trying to help ‘McFly’, his future dad, to become a real man and stand up to ‘Biff’, a guy who keeps bullying him. Eventually his dad is faced with a show down where he can choose to stand up or walk away in fear.
He remembers Marty’s words to him and plucks up the courage to land a left hook which sends his bully to the ground and wins him the woman of his dreams.
As I reflected on the scene I was struck by how we sometimes need someone to inspire or provoke us to take courage. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will directly be ‘the helper’ we need to take courage, other times he will send someone to help us. And they become the instrument of provoking us to take courage and defeat fear.
At the same time God will sometimes ask us to be the channel of helping others to find courage in the midst of the roar of fear.
This year I pray we may increasingly be available to one another, to give strength and encouragement to those who have allowed fear to paralyse them. And in doing so may we experience an army of courageous sons and daughters rising up to take risks and walk in their destiny.