Foster parents are engaged in a work that necessitates courage. Daily, we are faced with the realities of problems that seem insurmountable, a future that is clouded, and uncertainty that arouses fear and trepidation. In scripture though, we see courage commanded and modeled for us in scripture.
“Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at its testing.”
-C.S. Lewis
One of the most memorable instances of this command and model is when Joshua is given leadership over Israel to take them into the promised land. Joshua was grieving the death of Moses, he knew the rebellious nature of the people he led, and knew well the reality of the enemies they would face in Canaan. God commanded Joshua three times in verses one through nine of Joshua 1 to “be strong and courageous.” God did not just give him this command but gave him a reason for this courage: “for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (vs. 9)
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt
We as foster parents face being unsure if we can handle the behaviors of a child. We are afraid the right choice is not being made in a decision we have no control over. We do not know how long a child will be with us, if they will go back to their families, or if they may be moved somewhere else at a moments notice. We fear the pain we know beyond a shadow of a doubt we will feel when child we have loved completely leaves us and we are left with memories and deep heartache.
Franklin D. Roosevelt has oft been quoted that “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” When I fear to love because I am afraid to hurt, courage is found in the assessment that that to love is more important than to self-protect and acting accordingly. Elizabeth Elliot has said, “Sometimes fear does not subside and one must do it afraid.” We have a God whom we can trust and who through his spirit at work in us empowers us to respond courageously to the circumstances to which he leads us.