I cannot count the number of times I have had to run away from an angry mother hen that charged at me, as a boy. In fact, I have found myself repeating it in my adulthood.

I used the expression 'found myself' because I never planned to run away from a mere hen. Each time it happened, after I was in a good distance away from the fiery charging hen, my eyes opened to the fact that I, a boy, actually, a man, should not have moved an inch away from a mere hen. Well, I felt disappointed but also grateful to my legs for working out my well-being.

I was not the fowl's mate in strength but I ran from it anyway. So why would an adult have to run from a hen with less strength than he has? The truth is that each time I ran, I was not running away because of the STRENGTH of the hen, but because of the COURAGE it possessed to chase me. It seemed odd to me that a lower animal will charge at me. The courage of the animal got me confused; I forgot my strength and ran away from the angry hen. The fierceness, ferocity and fury in its eyes, accentuated by its puffed-up wings usually made me forget my strength, at least until I was distance away.

That is a classic case of a strong man running away from little battles because of lack of courage.

You may be strong... but without courage, you will keep running from little fiery hens.

Strength is very important. It is the quality of being strong. However, it becomes useful when you are courageous enough to face the task, in the first place. Courage gives expression to your strength.

It was not without good reasons that God kept telling Joshua, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9 KJV)”.

Gideon found it hard to believe that he had any might. That is what lack of courage does; it dwarfs your strength and makes you look ordinary to yourself.
And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. Judges 6:14-17 KJV

It is unarguable that Christians are strong! We draw our strength from the Almighty. That is not the end. It is only the beginning. We must be courageous to take every step as laid in our hearts by God. We must move out of the comfort zone to the next level he has long sorted out for us. This is the only way we can be fulfilled and fully explore the riches of His glory.