I was reading recently about a Christian man called John Paton who travelled to the New Hebrides, now known as Vanuatu. In the 19th century, the islands had a fearsome reputation, and several Christians had already been killed there. Paton’s church elder, a man named Mr Dickson, desperately tried to stop Paton from going, warning him that he might be eaten by cannibals!
Paton replied: “Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms.”
Most of us will never be asked to show courage in quite such dramatic circumstances, but every Christian is called to be courageous. The Bible’s understanding of courage is rather different from the world’s view. Worldly courage is presented as confidence in ourselves: believing that we are strong enough to overcome whatever stands before us. Christian courage begins with confidence in God.
courage grows through small acts of obedience
When Joshua was preparing to lead Israel into the Promised Land, he had every reason to feel afraid: Moses had died, and now the responsibility before him was colossal, and yet God repeatedly told him, “Be strong and courageous.” The reason Joshua could take courage was all to do with God’s promise: “The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Christian courage grows when we become more convinced of God’s presence than we are overwhelmed by our circumstances.
We see this most clearly in Jesus. Jesus told his disciples that they would face trouble in the world but then said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Our courage rests in Christ’s victory. We can act faithfully even when we feel afraid because Jesus has overcome sin and death, and nothing can separate us from his love.
So how does courage develop
Usually, courage grows through small acts of obedience. We learn to speak truthfully when silence would be easier, or we choose forgiveness when resentment is more satisfying. John Paton’s story teaches us to share our faith even though we worry about what others might think or say. Each time we trust God and obey him, our confidence in his faithfulness deepens.
Now, it is possible to be courageous and still feel fear. The courageous person may still feel nervous, uncertain, weak or incompetent. Christian courage means bringing those fears to God and continuing to follow Christ whatever the cost.
I wonder whether there is a conversation that you have been avoiding or an act of obedience you have delayed… perhaps it is an opportunity to speak about Jesus that feels daunting. God gives us his Word and his Spirit to enable us to live courageously.
Read again the words of Jesus: “Take heart.” Our confidence is in the one who has overcome the world.
