How to Be Brave … When You Want to Give Up

I’ve never considered myself a brave person. I’m not one to bungee jump, and the best I’ve done on the ski slopes is the beginner’s run. (And I actually finished the hill on the back of a snowmobile because I was so scared!)

When I started 2020, I never thought the year would take so much bravery. I had to be brave in keeping a full house of kids from going stir crazy. I had to be brave by turning off the television, instead of being consumed with the news. I also had to be brave by making time for myself at times and—at other times—laying down my desires (like a hot bath and a book) to listen to the concerns of my kids. 2020 hasn’t been easy for them either.

If being brave were easy, then I wouldn’t need Jesus. I wouldn’t need to get up early, seek His face, and ask Him to transform my fearful heart before the day begins.

Sometimes we think bravery is doing something big for God, but my friend Holley Gerth says, “Simply doing the next thing is often the bravest choice we can make.” I’ll dare to add to that. Simply doing the next thing is often the bravest choice we can make.

How much easier life would be if we could just do one grand gesture for God and then everything would be smooth from there. Instead, life means laying down oneself over and over again—for your grandmother, for your new-to-adulthood child, and for your difficult teen. (I’m talking to myself here!) 

Do You Need To Be Brave?

If you’re like me, maybe you thought that success comes from having a very scheduled and organized year I had mapped out, but as we discovered true success is not giving up. It’s choosing to show up again and again.

Do you need a dose of bravery as you face big hardships and challenges? Or maybe your “brave” is simply trusting God’s purposes in the midst of everyday life.

Sometimes we think we have to pull out our inner strength to make ourselves be braver. This isn’t true. Peter and John were two of Jesus’ closest friends, and they still had times when they had to be brave. For them, they didn’t have to deal with kids during a pandemic, but they were often afraid of praying for others or telling people about Jesus. Instead of hiding, they prayed and asked God to give them boldness and power.

“And now, O Lord, hear their threats and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. —Acts 4:29–31 (NLT).

God answered the prayer of Peter and John by giving them the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit is available to you if you ask. And the amazing thing is, that the Holy Spirit isn’t just available for the “big” things, like preaching to a multitude. He’s available when you have a headache, a bad attitude, or a desire to just escape into the Instagram portal instead of dealing with the real people around you.

Do you need bravery today? Do you feel like giving up? The best advice I have is to turn to God. Ask Him to give you bravery and boldness. 

Even if you aren’t praying for a snowmobile to rescue you from the bunny slopes, you can turn to God for help in the little stuff, too. When you think it’s too much, God will help you show up. And even if your situation doesn’t change, God can change your heart. How do I know? That’s how I’ve gotten through 2020 so far.

Walking it Out,

Tricia Goyer