In November 1962, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was sentenced to five years imprisonment for illegally leaving the country, while serving that jailed term he was charged for treason and sentenced to life imprisonment.
At his trial he said “ I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
He spent 28years behind the prison bar for fighting the apartheid policy and advocating for the establishment of racial equality in South Africa. He was released in February 11, 1990 and later became the first black president of South Africa in 1994.
The question here is what kept his dream alive and got him going for 28years while languishing behind the prison bar? Why couldn’t that long jail term break his spirit? Among many other qualities, it is COURAGE! He was a symbol of courage, bravery and conviction. He was a testimonial of what one man with courage can achieve. The proof that our challenges can cave in under a commensurate courage.
Your own story or circumstances may not be close to that of Nelson Mandela, however, you need courage to achieve significant success, you need courage keep fighting, you need courage to pursue your dreams in spite of glaring obstacles, you need courage to lead. You need courage start all over again. You need courage to confront and surmount your oppositions. You need courage to work with God’s promises and turn them to performance. You need courage to stand in the midst of criticism and rejection. You need courage to start that business. Failures actually are people who have lost courage and can no longer fight another round. Without courage, the strongest of men is a spineless failure.
Don’t allow life to beat you into fearful and panic mode*. God could sense deep rooted fear and discouragement in Joshua, so God said to him thrice, “Be strong and be of good courage.” God wants him to be fearless and bold. That same message is for you. Life will always keep people who cannot fight back and try again on the floor.
Today, Be courageous and bold! Face your fears with courage. I don’t know how, but I know you will win!
Remember, what you are afraid of is equally afraid of you.
I am Pst Femi Ajayi