By Ann Weaver.
A lowly shepherd commanding the most powerful ruler in the world to let God’s people go worship Him. A young woman informing the king that his right-hand man was plotting a devious scheme right under his nose- and confessing a dangerous secret about her heritage. A captive continuing to pray to the Lord even when he knew he would surely be thrown to wild beasts if he was found out.
These are all hero stories, if one thinks about it. There are these, and so many more instances in the Bible where people showed so much courage that we feel we could never measure up to them.
But think about how they must’ve felt when they were in each of those situations. We’ve read those stories dozens of times–but they had no idea what the outcome would be.
Imagine being Moses, knowing that you were told by God to tell Pharaoh these words, but knowing that he could execute you at a moment’s notice. Seeing Pharaoh promise to set the people free and beg for relief from the plagues,then go immediately back on his word. Knowing that you had a difficult speech problem, making it even harder for you to trust the Lord in this role he has given you.
Imagine being Esther, not only approaching your husband, the king, without permission but also having to tell him of his right hand man’s plot to kill an entire race of people, and then having to tell him that you were a part of those very people. Imagine losing your courage the first time you tried, and praying that night for the bravery to try again the next day, all while doing your best to not think about what happened to the last queen who dared defy the king.
Or imagine being Daniel, doing exactly what you did every day but knowing that this time it was against the law. Still leaving the door open, realizing the morbid consequences for this simple act and being fully aware that you are over eighty years old, probably without much bodily strength to resist much if discovered. Knowing that even though the king is someone you know well, he is powerless to retract his own orders, and that he could not be saved whether the king was willing or not.
None of them knew God’s plan at the moment their courage was needed the most.
Later, I know they all looked back and marveled at the Lord’s providence and grace to give them the courage they needed, seeing how he had planned from the start exactly what he wished to happen. But at the time, they were probably trembling inside, for though they knew what they were doing was right, they had no idea how it would turn out. Would they be imprisoned? Tortured? Killed?
I don’t think any of us will have to confront rulers, commanding them or telling them something they don’t want to hear. It could happen, but the chances are extremely slim. But how many opportunities do we have, in the difficulties of our lives, to show courage in the face of hard times?
It takes courage to admit that you were wrong, courage to confront someone at a high cost to yourself. It takes courage to admit you did something you shouldn’t have, and sometimes even to obey something you feel is wrong. But as long as you are doing what God has commanded, you are showing courage just as Moses, Esther, Daniel, and many thousands of other godly heroes have shown.
It doesn’t feel brave to do some things, but often those things show the truest courage. I’m sure Moses didn’t feel brave confronting Pharoah, Esther informing King Xerxes, or Daniel standing up to King Darius. How could they? From their point of view, all seemed hopeless.
You and I don’t have our lives on the line most of the time, and yet we are in the same sort of situations sometimes. Fearful of what is to come. Intimidated by what we must do. Knowing that what that thing is will be extremely difficult, but knowing that it’s the right thing to do.
Let’s remember, whenever those moments come, to draw our courage from the Bible, from the stories of these men and women that showed strength and bravery as they stood up for what they knew was right. They, too, were unsure and frightened, but they pressed on and prevailed, showing true courage in the difficult storms of life.
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