In his book “Stepping Up” Dennis Rainey writes, “there are moments and seasons in life that a man can’t possibly prepare for. He is dropped into combat without warning.” He than goes on to share eight lessons he learned about tragedy and loss. Lessons he learned first hand after the passing of his third grandchild Molly. I would like to highlight five of the eight today to encourage you to realize that our greatest test as men come in the valleys of life and those are the times we need to man up and step up and show up.

You don’t have to understand all of God’s purpose to step up and be His man

You can still have doubts and step up

You are no less a courageous man if you are faced with situations that you cannot fix and about which you don’t know what to do but cry out to God in prayer

You will need another good man standing alongside you when you journey through the valley

You must know the truth about who God is. Because courage that overcomes fear comes from convictions, and convictions about life and death come from the truth in God’s word

Conclusion

The common tendency for some men when tragedy or trail come is to deny it and or do nothing about it. Are you going to be the man who turns back… A man who runs from a challenge… A man who caves in to the pressure… are you going to stand still, lay down and rob you marriage and family and children of the leader, comforter, healer you are called to be? I employ you to man up and stand you ground in the Lord – He is on your side.

Pages: 11, 18, 24 Stepping Up: A call to courageous Manhood by Dennis Rainey