What can give us courage as we face those sit-down-and-hold-on-to-myself fears that sometimes shift our focus from where we want it to be? Is the Occupy Portland movement grabbing more of our attention that we really want it to? And what about the kind of life we suspect lies ahead for our grandchildren and "greats"? The answer to these questions is clearly stated throughout our Bible: We must get to know God better, by prayer, by study, by any and every means. But sometimes we receive courage first from other people like ourselves.

Philip Brooks, a New England preacher of the last century who wrote the beloved Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem," suggests we can take courage from all the Christians who have gone before us. We are so fortunate to have all the writings of many who have left strong testimonies of their own courage in Christ. Brooks says that we are only tracing over in our own blood what earlier people wrote in theirs. In Volume 1 of his sermons, he says, "Do not misread history, that it shall seem to you when you try to do the right, as if you were the first person that ever tried it. Put yourself with your weak little struggle into the company of all the strugglers in all time."

This early concept of what we now call a "support group" can give us a better perspective. Reading about and remembering God-loving people who have struggled does build up our courage. Knowing someone here and now helps as well. In my family, I watched as our middle child, Steve, chose to live with my parents rather than follow "the plan" of completing his education at the University of Washington. That could come later because he knew how much it meant to his grandma if her husband of sixty-plus years could stay at home with her, avoiding a nursing home move until the final stages of his dementia.

Yes, take heart! God still cares and will supply what we need when we need it. "He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshipfully fear him; He also will hear their cry and will save them" (Psalm 145:19, AMP). We can thank our Heavenly Father for the courage He wants to give us, to be His stand-in. And to be "His love with skin on"--for our family and for others.