Devotion: Practicing Bravery

“Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.” ~Mary Tyler Moore

I have learned about the beauty, power, and bravery of failure from my daughters and their theater friends.

Both of my girls are actresses. As part of their college application process, in addition to the usual requirements, they were also expected to perform an audition in front of a panel of theater department professors. During the busy senior year crush of preparing resumes, writing essays, studying for standardized tests, and gathering teacher recommendations, my daughters were also researching, memorizing, and practicing multiple monologues in preparation for our trips to each university for the audition process. Of course, every school expected a different length or type of monologue!

Theatre kids are tough. The very nature of the audition and casting process guarantees a firsthand familiarity with failure. For every yes in the business of acting, there are multiple no’s. At my daughters’ high school, it was routine for seventy-five or eighty students to show up to audition for a play with only twenty-five parts. In college, the odds have often been even more daunting. If success is narrowly defined as getting a part in the play, then the majority of students failed.

Yet these young people keep showing up. When they don’t get cast, many sign up to be part of the production crew and engage in the creative process in other ways. They listen, learn, and lean on the expertise of the directors and the older students and they prepare differently for the next audition. They conduct themselves with grace and compassion when they finally make the cast list, because they remember their disappointment and tears when the cast list was posted last time.

Since my daughters left for college, I have been trying to follow their brave example by taking risks, trying new things, and putting myself in situations where I might feel awkward and uncomfortable. Being a beginner and re-creating my life in my fifties feels equal parts terrifying and exhilarating, yet the unfolding adventure is worth any cost. In spite of falling flat on my face a few times, God has been faithfully uncovering the part he wants me to play in his kingdom as I lean in and listen to the combination of his voice and my passions.

God says we are brave and promises to be with us always. He has a plan for each of our lives and a role for us to play in bringing about the kingdom Jesus promised. Stepping out of our comfort zones and showing up intentionally in the world will sometimes be awkward, embarrassing, or even painful. We will likely fail a few times as we try new things, make adjustments, and begin again. Yet God is faithful, and he is creating a masterpiece with each of our lives.

Good and creative God, thank you for the opportunity to be part of the story you are writing. You have never once told us to play it safe, so help us to boldly go where your voice is beckoning, whatever that might look like for each one of us. Give us the courage to try new things, even if we feel awkward and uncomfortable. It’s no fun to fail, Lord, but we trust that is part of the process of learning and growing. Forgive us when we are timid, and help us follow you more closely. Amen.

 Scriptures for Reflection

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV)

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

Reach for More

This week’s challenge is to consider one brave thing you might do to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Has there been something you have always wanted to try, but were unwilling to take the chance for fear of failing? Would it be worth the fear to move closer to the dreams God has for your life? Don’t overanalyze and don’t worry about how it will all turn out; just do the next brave thing in front of you. We become braver by doing brave things, so baby steps are encouraged!

Friends, please come back and leave a comment telling us about your experiments with doing one brave thing this week. Tag someone who inspires you with their bravery and tell us why. Share a time when failure made you stronger, how God spoke to you this week, or share your progress on social media using the hashtag #tgtreachformore. We would love to hear from you.

Kelly Johnson is a counselor, writer, speaker, and advocate. She leads a weekly Bible study and serves as chair of the board of directors at a local shelter for the homeless. Married to her high school sweetheart, she is the mom of two college-age daughters. Kelly writes about life, faith, and her newly empty nest at kellyjohnsongracenotes.com.

Photograph © Donald Tong, used with permission