6 Ways to be Brave for God

For a while now, daily news and social engineering propaganda has been quite negative and controlling. It seems like we are all in the middle of a battle every single day. As believers, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

How do we prepare ourselves for the fight? Do we rely on our own strength?

No. Instead, we need to obey Ephesians 6:10 and “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”

He will never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:5). His presence is what makes us brave.

God calls us all to be brave, and here are 6 ways we can live brave lives for Him.

1. Sometimes, brave looks like stepping out of our comfort zone.

Consider the scripture of when Peter walks on water.

Jesus asks us to move forward with the next steps. Often, in life, a boat may feel too comfortable and familiar, and we don’t want to get out.

Sometimes, like Peter, brave is trusting in Jesus’ commands, looking to Him, and stepping out of the boat of our comfort zone.

2. Sometimes brave looks like staying right where you are.

We often think of bravery as parachuting out of an airplane, moving to a foreign country, or selling all of our possessions and stepping into the unknown.

For some people, being brave is staying right where you are. Sometimes brave looks like submitting to your current situation and circumstances, even and especially when they’re not pleasant.

Through the account of His crucifixion, the Lord Jesus Christ gives us the ultimate example of this kind of bravery:

On the night that he was betrayed by Judas, “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’”-John 18:4

Jesus did not turn and run from the immeasurable suffering he was about to experience.

His soul was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Matthew 28:38).

He “fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will’” (Matthew 26:39).

And he stayed right where He was, in His Father’s will.

That’s bravery.

3. Your brave might not look like my brave.

Author Annie Downs writes that we all have “a unique call to be brave.” She reminds us that we all have different strengths and weaknesses, and we’re all wired differently, with a “rare combination of qualities and desires.”

“If we are each as unique as the Bible says we are, then our calls to courage are each equally unique,” Downs wrote. “Like peering through a kaleidoscope crystal, no two people are going to see the same thing when they look for a brave moment.”

“God is that creative. It’s not your job to see the same refraction of light and color on the wall. It’s your job to be brave enough to look through the kaleidoscope, even if what you see surprises you.”

4. Brave looks like resting in God’s presence.

To Isaac, God said, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” -Genesis 26:24.

To Joshua, the Lord said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

In numerous accounts in Scripture, the Lord tells people not to be afraid because He is with them. He doesn’t give them a pep talk about how great they are, or how strong they are in their own strength. He calms their fears with the promise and assurance of His presence.

In Deuteronomy 20:3, we read: “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

5. Brave looks a lot like faith.

Numerous people in the Bible dealt with temptations of fear, anxiety, and panic.

The question is: What do we do when we’re afraid?

The Scriptures offer wisdom:

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you” (Psalm 56:3).

“…in God I trust; I will not be afraid” (Psalm 56:4).

“I will trust and not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2).

Brave and faith go hand in hand. In order to trust and have faith, we need to be brave. And in order to be brave, we need to trust in God and have faith in Him, His presence, and His power.

6. Brave always looks like being faithful.

Often, being faithful means simply showing up.

It’s easy and common to give up, walk away, and stop trying. But as believers, we’re given this charge in Revelation 2:10: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”