I have often thought of courage as short-term bravery. For example, am I willing to take the risk to skydive for my sister-in-law’s birthday? Nope. Would I be comfortable traveling alone to a foreign country? Yes. As I started writing this blog, I realized that courage has more layers than just my risk tolerance. There is a component of preparation, choices, and the fortitude to follow through, even if the possibility is dangerous and deadly.

When I think of biblical courage, I think of Daniel in the lion’s den, Esther standing up to King Xerxes, and David fighting Goliath. None of these heroes made quick, impulsive decisions. All faced risky, dangerous, and scary situations. And in each scenario, they sought God and courageously took charge: Daniel was guilty of praying to the Lord, but he was confident in his obedience and knew one way or another, God would protect him (Daniel 6). Queen Esther asked questions to learn the fate of the Jewish race before making her request to the King to spare them (Esther 4 & 5). David turned down King Saul’s armor for his own simple equipment (1 Samuel 17).

These Bible heroes displayed more than bravery in a moment; they exemplified a mental and moral component to their actions, too. They demonstrated that courage is standing up to something challenging or difficult, and being fully aware that you aren’t in a good spot, but being willing to confront it despite it (all the while probably being frightened too!).

Here are a few examples of modern-day courage I have witnessed:

• A teen turning down the prestigious, out-of-state, Big 10 University, that is incredibly difficult to get accepted to, the one that would open future business doors and networks, and instead, choosing the local option because of the Christian community and urban YoungLife opportunity that would satisfy his soul more than his future wallet.
• A young adult breaking up with a wonderful person who looks great on paper, one who the world applauds for ambition, brilliance, and good looks, yet isn’t equally yoked in their faith.
• A friend sharing with others that addiction prevents them from social drinking, and that abstaining is the only way to begin to beat the addiction.

As I ponder these courageous decisions further, I see the through line of resolve. I can see the heart and wisdom of knowing what they want and weighing the consequences of bucking the societal norms. I imagine they each had a legal pad of paper, full of plusses and minuses, with one thing, a nudge getting stronger and stronger, encouraging them to take the leap of faith and start plotting out what this decision would look like. I envision the excitement that came as they started dreaming of the future to come, knowing it would be in God’s time, yet experiencing in real time the feelings of relief because their moral conscience would no longer be playing tug-of-war. And then the little steps of faith, as they began speaking of this future to one friend, then another, sharing: their decision to accept the local school; their desire for a spouse who is equally yoked; the truth of their addiction and need for help.

Can’t you imagine their journal entries as they asked God for wisdom and guidance, and for strength to follow through?

Looking at our biblical heroes and the modern-day stories above, I discovered a few attributes that allowed them all to be so bold. Let’s take a look earlier in Daniel’s life. He was from a royal Israeli family and part of the nobility. He was young, handsome, and had an aptitude for learning (Daniel 1:3-5). From the very beginning of his captivity in Babylon (modern-day Iraq), he chose to go against the grain and stay true to his faith: “Daniel resolved not to defile himself with royal food and wine” (Daniel 1:8).

Daniel requested different food, and with God’s blessing, it was approved. Daniel assessed the pressures of the new culture he was forced into and was determined to keep the religious standards of his upbringing. This determination and discipline were a through line for the rest of his life, even as he rose in the ranks serving a foreign king. We can find this resolve in the faith lives of Esther and David, too.

Another attribute is that none of these people made their decisions alone. They went to God and also to trusted friends. Daniel knew his co-workers put a new policy in place to prevent his promotion, yet he also knew his God was a higher authority than King Darius. So, he did what he always did. He went home and prayed:

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10).

The prayer discipline and obedience saved Daniel’s life:
“At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent His angel, and He shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty” (Daniel 6:19-22).

Esther didn’t rush to decide either. She went to her uncle Mordecai to learn the facts of the new edict the King put in place. As the news set in, courage overtook her. Her reply:

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

And there was young David. He was already anointed as the future king (1 Samuel 16), but was still feeding his father’s sheep. Too young for battle, he was delivering bread and cheese to his oldest brothers when he heard the giant taunting the Israelite army. He offered his skills to kill Goliath, but in his own way:
“When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:34-37).

David had no doubt God was with him, because God had chosen him and “the Spirit of the LORD (was) powerfully upon David” (1 Samuel 16:12-13). David could be bold and courageous because he had the power of the Holy Spirit in him.

We. Do. Too.

“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11).

It’s the Spirit of God who assisted the modern-day stories, too. The teen is now mid-twenties, has since started his own company, and is thriving with Christian fellowship surrounding him. The young adult has found a deeper relationship with God and with a significant other more yoked in faith, and the recovering alcoholic is living a sober life to its fullest, knowing there are many years ahead not shrouded in addiction and destruction that had been destroying them and those around them.

Please pray with me:
Lord, thank You for planting Your Spirit inside of us and for giving us the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. I know You are by my side in all situations, lovingly nudging me to follow Your path, drawing me closer to You. Thank You for putting up big road blocks in the areas that are far too dangerous for how You created me, and for leading me to the new ideas and territories You have set aside for me. I desire to live solely by the nudges and whispers of the Holy Spirit. Please help me “die more to me” and grow more in You. Happy Father’s Day, Almighty Father of the Universe. Amen.