“The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions. Proverbs 28:1

Have you ever been awakened at night by a sound you couldn’t identify. You laid there listening. Going over in your mind what the sound could be. Finally, with fear and trembling you get up and investigate the sound only to find out it was nothing more than a branch brushing against the window. The sound was real. The fear was real. The danger? Nothing to be alarmed over. Fear can deceive you.

Over the years there have been countless predictions of catastrophic events that would destroy life on earth as we know it. The advent of the internet, social media and AI have only compounded the problem. We seem to thrive on fear! Every day we are bombarded with advertisements saying this drug will heal you but the side effects may kill you. We are warned about the effects of this political party or that agenda. Fear can cause stress, health problems and cause people to make irrational assumptions and decisions.

Ironically, studies have shown that many of our fears are unwarranted. Fear is an emotion based on assumptions. Courage, on the other hand, is a mindset based on what we know to be true. It was fear that kept the Israelite army hiding in their tents from Goliath, but is was courage sent a young shepherd boy out to slay the giant. It wasn’t his strength that took down the giant, it was faith in the power of his God.

Putting your faith in mankind’s power and intelligence leads to fear and despair. We don’t have a great track record on solving social, political or economic issues.

Putting your faith in God is a different matter. While we may not understand his ways, God has a proved track record. He does what he says he’ll do. Faith in a God that is in complete control allows us to see through the foolishness of man to the power of God. It gives us boldness when others are full of fear.

Proverbs 28:1 likens the person who trusts in God to a lion that walks with boldness. Life issues don’t bother him because he knows he is the king! Our position in Christ is far more than the promise of eternity after we die. It’s a promise of God walking beside us every day of our lives.

Are you walking boldly because of your faith in God, or living in fear of something He’s already defeated?

Grace Nugget: Grace gives us boldness to face life because our confidence isn’t in our strength but in a God who goes before us.