She approached the front of the room with confidence, mostly. I mean, she was probably nervous, we all were. Obligated to go through this public speaking course as part of a comprehensive training program for the agricultural finance firm we were employed by, I think everyone was at least a little nervous.
This class was different than most though. No balance sheets. No income statements. Only public speaking. Training, discussion and then this – a mock up in front of the entire class.
One at a time we had to wing it through the scenario we were given – a chamber of commerce meeting, a service club presentation, delivering a sales speech, that sort of thing.
The woman taking the stage now was about third at bat and the nervous energy in the room was high as we were all focused and attentive, not yet bored with the process. She followed the rules just fine as she introduced herself and proceeded through the steps we’d just been trained in. Until she didn’t. A minute or two in, she stopped mid-sentence, let out an exasperated sigh and defeatedly admitted “I can’t do this.”
The look on her face as she took her seat, told me she would have been happy to have dissolved right into the carpet at that moment. Next in line, I wanted to dissolve right along with her.
What in the world happened? She had been doing just fine, nailing her points, and yet somehow she was devoured by the butterflies in her tummy, by the lies her fears were telling her. And she crumbled.
How was I to know my butterflies wouldn’t do the same?
So I made up my mind to fake it. I made up my mind that no matter how near those butterflies were to making me puke, no matter how loud my fear was screaming at me, I would keep going and fake it. I would smile wide, keep talking and would not dare to sit down until I was done.
So I did.
I was congratulated but the instructor, applauded by my classmates and I quickly internalized the strategy that got me there. Just fake it.
I mentally traded confidence for willpower. I didn’t have to be mentally convinced I could do it, I would do it.
While that attitude served me well for the public speaking class, and most of my early 20s in general, it’s a failed logic. You see, faking it doesn’t gain you much in the end. Like putting on a costume, acting out a role, you know that was never really you in the first place. It’s a character. It’s an act. But true courage is not playing a part. True courage is pouring out your real self and knowing that is enough.
James chapter 4 tells us, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
In verse 10 he says, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will life you up.
This is a whole different brand of brave. Do you see it? A brave that comes from an upside down gospel. A brave that follows a salvation plan where the King humbled himself to live among us, to die for us even. A brave that doesn’t need to rely on faking it, because it’s every bit real, every bit authentic, every bit humble.
I believe in a brave that is boundless, a love that is limitless, a brave that won’t fail even when I do. I believe in a brave that moves mountains, a brave that walked on water, the One who calmed the raging seas.
You can’t fake that, friends. That is real courage, real brave.
Real brave found only in submitting ourselves humbly before the One in whom real courage lies.
There is truly no greater brave.
💓 don’t we all relate to one another when we’re authentic? I know I do. If I see someone else being true, real, brave, I can’t help but be that way also.
It’s the best kind of contagious. A breath of fresh air. And you do it quite well, my friend!
“Real brave is found only in submitting ourselves humbly before the One in whom real courage lies.”
THAT was an awesome sentence right there. Hit it home for sure. 🙂
Thank you, Brianna. You, of all people, know exactly where sentences like that pour from. <3
The relationship that you brought out between humbleness and bravery is interesting. I had never thought of that before, but it is so true!
I can’t say that I had either, Tara, before I was reading over it in the Bible. I find it amazing how different things really jump out at us at different times, often right when we need to hear them. It certainly keeps the studying fun!
I love this and found it very inspiring! I like the way you address bravery and the role of faith in being brave. I also love James 4:10, and am off to highlight it in my online Bible; thank you!
I love that Trish, highlight away! 🙂
God wants us to step out in faith more this year
Yes…and probably next year as well. 😉
I will say that FAKE IT works in public speaking. In fact, when I taught it to my students, that was pretty much what I told them. No one in the audience knows you’re nervous. Put on a confidence character and you’ll do fine. People believe what you show them!
But deep down I was still butterflies. You are so right that isn’t real confidence to trust and rely in. God says I gave you these skills to use them, trust in what you’ve learned and go. Then the confidence is really REAL. I’m learning that His confidence comes from studying His character and spending time with Him. The more I do that, the more I know who I am in Him and which direction He wants for my life.
<3 ! Great message.
That is it exactly, Jennifer. And your public speaking advice is probably spot on as well. I remember thinking that about the poor girl who stopped mid speech. I really wanted to tell her that if she could have held on for one more minute no one would have ever known! But it’s when we translate that logic to the rest of our lives, confuse that strategy with the courage that Christ is calling us to that things get messy. Thank for stopping by; I always love your comments here.
I LOVE the name of your blog. I choose brave! Neighbor at Grace & Truth linkup.
May I invite you to share at the DanceWithJesus linkup today to bless someone there? SusanBMead.com/blog
Thank you, Susan. I appreciate you stopping by!