• Finding Fortitude

    By: Kristen L. McNulty

    Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.

    There is so much beauty and mystery to be found in the Kingdom of God. There's the mind-blowing grace that brought the Son of God down to this earth to die on behalf of the souls who openly rebelled against Him. There's the majesty of creation that serves in a billboard all around us, pointing us to the Creator who loves us. And then there is the miraculous transformation that comes into our lives when we start to follow Jesus. And that transformation is never more on display than when you and I face a trial in our lives.

    When we face trials, we're given the gift of perspective that this life is fading and one awaits for us free from pain and suffering, yes. But we're also given the gift of something that can only be captured, in my opinion, by the word fortitude. Fortitude comes from the Latin words fortis, meaning strong. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word fortitude as: "strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage."

    Transformed From The Inside Out


    When we come to truly know Jesus, He does a transformation of us from the inside out that provides peace where before there was only fear, faith where before there was only doubt, strength where before there was only weakness, and courage where before there was only cowardice. We see this when Jesus took the apostle Peter who went from denying him three times, to becoming a bold preacher for Christ even if that meant facing persecution and then going on to stand strong in his faith and refusing to renounce Christ, even though that brought a death likely by crucifixion. We see this in our own lives as we're able to walk through even the hardest times and not become broken down or completely defeated, but instead go forth in faith, filled with peace, comfort, strength and even joy. Fortitude. As the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8:

    "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8


    The Fortitude To Thrive


    This isn't a special gift that is only offered to giants of the faith like Paul. It's what God promises to you and I. You see when we come to know Jesus, He takes up residence in our hearts and uses the things we go through to make us more like Him. And the further along in our faith journey we get, the better we are equipped to not just survive the rough times, but have the fortitude thrive even through them!

    Romans chapter 5 captures this perfectly when it says:

    "Through Him also we have access by faith into this grace in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Moreover let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

    Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for the ungodly. Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us." (Romans 5:2-8, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)


    Now Is The Time To Decide


    If you haven't decided to follow Jesus and trust Him as your Savior, now is the time. Those verses make it clear that no matter who you are or what you've done, God loves you and will forgive you. All you need to do is accept that gift right here and right now! Head over to this website if you'd like to learn how to take that step.

    And if you are following Jesus and facing a storm, hang on and watch what He's about to do in your life! If there's one thing I know it's this: He never leaves you alone and He'll carry you through to the other side. Allowing you to stand strong with courage and fortitude, no matter what.

    What an amazing gift that is!

    Return To The Impact Devotional Archive