Do you ever feel small and in need of courage? Award winning author Janet Thompson shares her new book Everyday Brave with us today. You could win a free signed copy by commenting below. Offer for those with a USA shipping address. Now here’s Janet…
God Will Give Us Courage to Be Brave Believers
You’re with a group of people you’ve just met, and you sense by their conversation and actions that they’re antagonistic toward believers. What do you do now? Try to fit in, or act the same as you would if you were with a group of fellow believers? We’ve all been there sending up a silent prayer asking God, “Help!”
In today’s culture, it often takes courage to stand up for our faith, but this is nothing new. The message the Apostle Paul gave to the church at Corinth is still a source of encouragement for Christians to be brave today:
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13 NIV).
And Paul should know. He was routinely arrested, sent to prison, flogged, and ridiculed for his faith, but he never backed down from sharing the truth of the gospel.
Women of Faith from the Bible Give Us Courage
A group of what the Bible calls “prominent women” or “leading women” who were God-fearing Greeks in Thessalonica and Berea heard Paul’s message about Jesus, became believers, and joined his ministry. In both cities, the Jews listening to Paul became jealous that he was drawing a crowd, and they formed a mob to go after him and his ministry companion Silas. Knowing violent agitators and bullies were following Paul everywhere he went, what must these courageous women have feared might happen to them?
We’re not sure if prominent refers to their status as the wife of well-known important men, or if they were leaders of influence themselves, or simply wealthy women—or all of the above. Publicly believing the gospel and joining Paul’s evangelistic ministry could easily jeopardize their marriages, their standing in society, and their businesses. No matter what the personal cost to worldly fame, fortune, and security, they were all in for Christ.
They were brave believers and played an important role in helping Paul start the early church and share the gospel. Imagine the trials and struggles faced by these women as they watched Paul endure persecution while they served beside him amid hostility and danger. Theyknew that the authorities in the government and temple didn’t readily receive the message of Jesus.
Conspicuous believers were risking their lives. After all, they crucified their Messiah. What would happen to them? It seems they didn’t care. As believers, they were willing to take that risk. We can learn from these strong women of faith how to carry on their courageous legacy in a culture today that often isn’t receptive to the gospel of Christ.
Our Culture Needs Brave Women of Faith
It takes great courage to stand by your moral convictions and not let today’s cultural war frighten or silence you—especially when shunned, criticized, and ridiculed. It might seem easier just to go with the flow, but when we abdicate to the culture, we deny Christ, the foundation of our faith. Never do we see Jesus or the Apostle Paul shying away from sharing the truth just because someone didn’t like the message.
As Christians, proud of our faith and proud of our Savior, we aren’t in-your-face pushy, but we don’t back down from our convictions, even if it’s embarrassing or uncomfortable, even if we lose friends, relationships, and yes, even jobs.
Sometimes we’re tempted to compromise on our beliefs and not make waves because we want to keep everybody happy. Impossible. Jesus made waves.
We worry how we’ll look to our peers. Jesus worried about the eternal life, more than the earthly life, of both his peers and his enemies.
What if they reject or snub us? They rejected Jesus.
Sometimes we’re tempted to compromise on our beliefs and not make waves because we want to keep everybody happy. #Everydaybrave, #Courage Click To TweetTaking Inventory
People know us by our actions. So it’s good to take our spiritual heartbeat by asking ourselves some questions.
- Do my actions portray my love for the Lord?
- Would I want my friends and family to follow my example? In all situations?
- Am I willing for others in my circles to know I’m a believer?
- Would someone have to ask if I’m a believer?
- Would I have the courage to stand by my convictions at the risk of losing my job or friends?
As civil law increasingly counters God’s laws, pressure to comply intensifies. God says, “Stand firm in the faith.” Biblical courage means obeying God’s laws and not condoning or compromising on anything that Scripture opposes.
Yes, it’s uncomfortable, but as long as we stay tethered to God and biblical truths, He will provide the strength we need to stand against anything that opposes our faith. Be strong, courageous, and brave.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV)
About the author:
Janet Thompson is an international speaker, freelance editor, and award-winning author of 20 books. Her passion is to mentor women in sharing their life experiences and God’s faithfulness. Her new release Everyday Brave: Living Courageously As a Woman of Faith is available at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Barnes and Noble, and signed at author’s website.
She is also the author ofMentoring for All Seasons: Sharing Life Experiences and God’s Faithfulness; Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten;The Team That Jesus Built; Dear God, Why Can’t I Have a Baby?; Dear God They Say It’s Cancer;Dear God, He’s Home!;Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter; Face-to-Face Bible study Series; and Woman to Woman Mentoring: How to Start, Grow, & Maintain a Mentoring Ministry Resources.
Janet is the founder of Woman to Woman Mentoringand About His Work Ministries.
Visit Janet and sign up for her weekly blog and free online newsletter at womantowomanmentoring.com.
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About Everyday Brave:
In Everyday Brave, Janet explores the extraordinary bravery of fifty ordinary women in the Bible. Twenty-eight women of today also give testimonies of realizing their strength and courage through God’s love. As Janet shares the stories of these women, she reminds us that the real heart and substance of bravery comes from unconditionally placing our hope in the only One who can give us the courage to stay the course.
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What a great question to ask Ms. Janet; and thank you for introducing me to this amazing author Ms. Debbie. What do you do? Indeed. My initial response is “walk away.” Now I’m naturally an introvert and tend to shy away from crowds and groups, but sometimes we are forced into situations where we must interact. It happens! When I’m engaged in a conversation that things being said or done become uncomfortable for me, I find the quickest way possible to excuse myself and I leave the situation. My logic? If I stay in temptation’s presence, then it has more of an opportunity to influence me. For me, walking away politely is for my own protection. While I don’t announce “I’m a proud Pharisee and I don’t want to be around you sinful Unbelievers!”, I do extract myself from their presence. If asked later on (one on one) as to why I beat a hasty retreat, I’ll share my faith with them and my reasons for being uncomfortable. I don’t care to draw attention to myself, but I also don’t want to be covered in worldliness either. Hope that makes sense. Wonderful post ladies. Thank y’all!
J.D., I don’t like conflict either. I prefer one on one deeper conversations with people I sense have a genuine interest or felt need. I identify with you.
J.D. Thank you for sharing how you would respond in a situation we’re all often engaged in today.
What a great message! Yes, there have been times when keeping quiet seemed like the easier thing to do. When I have kept quiet and opted not to share my faith, I feel awful afterwards. Times will arise at any moment when we have opportunity to share His love with others. I pray I am alert to those times and that I will be brave. 🙂
Melissa, I share your prayer. I ask the Lord to put something on my heart to say if it is the time to speak. I often learn from the experience and have something better to say next time! I want to be ready to defend my faith with gentleness as 1 Peter 3:15 says.
Melissa that’s my prayer too that I’ll walk brave and bold for the Lord in love!
I would have to say that this is a book for these times we are living in for sure. It seems Christianity and our faith is ridiculed and attacked from all directions and standing up for what we believe gets more difficult. But it seems the principles and illustrations here are very encouraging and much needed today. I certainly can relate to J.D. and probably react that way more often than not. But as women, moms and grandmothers, I feel our families look to us in many ways to lead the way and being courageous women of faith is what I surely would want to be.
I agree, Ann. This sounds like a book for our time to equip us to be courageous.
Ann God’s timing is always perfect. And you’re right that we need to be godly mentors and role models to the next generation. If not us, than who?
I loved the thought-provoking questions to help me check my spiritual heartbeat, especially the one about wanting my family – my kids – to follow my example. Thanks for sharing the guest post, Debbie!
Julie, thanks so much for visiting and adding your thoughts.
Julie, I’m glad the questions got you thinking! I always challenge women to ask themselves if they’re the woman today they want their daughters to become! Or do we have the marriage we want for our children. We’re their closest role models.
Thanks so much for the reminder to be brave about sharing my faith. With the big push today for diversity and inclusion today, it seems that the only people they don’t seem to want to include are the Christians. I need to just speak truth in love anyway. These people are eternal beings. I need to care enough to share the gospel.
Thank you, Joanna. You said it well.
Yes, Joanna, Jesus cared more about people’s eternal life than their earthly life.
Hello! I’m visiting from Soaring with Him. I also have a Giveaway going on right now! It’s a #CoffeeBlogTour too. https://www.b4andafters.com/coffee-blog-tour-giveaway
Another good book is always welcome in my house. : )
Liberty @ B4andAfters.com
Thanks, Liberty. We do love our books don’t we?
Hi again Liberty. Thank you for your comment on my blog on my website!
The Truth of the resources God has given us (such as II Timothy 1:7) and the correlating commands (such as Deuteronomy 31:6) should motivate us to live out our calling, knowing we are equipped and ready-in-Christ! Would love to read this book and discover how to recognize the daily battles (and the often incognito enemies) and be alert and proactive in conquering and gaining territory!
Amen, Dani.