By David Faust
I led devotions for an Athletes in Action event at a large university. Before I spoke, the quarterback of the college football team was supposed to give his testimony. He was terrified! On Saturday afternoon, he would fearlessly play football in front of 60,000 people, but the thought of public speaking in front of 200 friends nearly froze him with fear.
Fear seems more common than faith these days. Fears about inflation grip consumers and investors. Social media amplifies bad news. I have struggled with fear myself, but over the course of my life, my best decisions have been the times when I chose to walk by faith, not by sight.
Profiles in Courage
Courage is inspiring—and contagious. Followers rally behind a brave George Washington or a spunky Mother Teresa. We admire the cancer patient who insists, “The big ‘C’ in my life is Christ, not Cancer.”
In the Old Testament, Joseph found the moral fortitude to say no when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. Moses boldly stood up to Pharaoh and said, “Let my people go.” David faced Goliath armed with a strong faith and five smooth stones. Daniel held onto his convictions when he was thrown into a lion’s den. Jerusalem’s walls lay in ruins until a cupbearer boldly confronted the king and God transformed Nehemiah from a butler to a builder.
In the New Testament, a young virgin bravely took God at his word and Mary gave birth to the Savior. John the Baptist boldly informed King Herod it was wrong to commit adultery, and John was jailed and beheaded as a result. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea stopped being secret disciples when they courageously took Jesus’ body down from the cross and buried him in a public place. Paul traveled around the Mediterranean as a missionary, enduring imprisonment, beatings, shipwrecks, and criticism, all because of his faith.
Three Keys to Becoming More Courageous
Courage comes from deeply held beliefs. America’s Founding Fathers sacrificed a lot because they felt compelled to defend our God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Abraham Lincoln endured much (and achieved much) because he was convinced slavery was wrong and the Union must be preserved. If you believe Jesus rose from the dead, you can live (and die) with courage. “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold” (2 Corinthians 3:12). Elisabeth Elliot said, “If a duty is clear, the dangers surrounding it are irrelevant.” Courage grows as our convictions deepen.
Courage comes from caring about those you love. Normally you and I wouldn’t run into a busy street and risk getting hit by a car, but if we saw a child in harm’s way, we wouldn’t hesitate to intervene. Jesus “resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51)—knowing he would be crucified there—because he was motivated by love. Courage grows as our compassion deepens.
Courage comes from the Lord. The Lord told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Pray for boldness. The apostle Paul wrote, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). Courage grows as our reliance on the Holy Spirit deepens.
Personal Challenge: In what part of your life do you need to be brave right now? Do you need courage to intervene in a difficult situation? To face a serious illness? To say “no” to temptation? To confront someone whose attitude or behavior is hurting others? Decide that you will live by faith, not by fear.
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