Courage Is What We Need | The Boldness and Urgency to Share Jesus

Courage Is What We Need

Those were the words a precious friend spoke to me during a conversation about living faithfully as Christians. That conversation happened a while back, yet those words seem even more relevant today than when they were first spoken.

We live in a world that is hostile to truth and the message of Jesus Christ which means we will need courage like never before.  In Acts 4:23-31, the authorities released Peter and John after they arrested them for their message of Jesus and and threatened them not to speak the name of Jesus. They returned to gather with other believers and prayed for boldness and courage to speak God’s word.

If the disciples needed courage to speak in a culture hostile to their message, how much more do we need it today? The assassination of Charlie Kirk reminds us of just how dangerous standing for truth has become because our world is also hostile to the message of Jesus. Jesus warned us in John 15:18,

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.”

Being hated for the sake of the Lord will require courage.

Urgency is What We Need

Not only do we need courage today, but we also need urgency—because time is running out. Jesus said,

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36

He spoke those words in response to His disciples’ question:

Tell us, when will these things be?

And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24:3

His answer reminds us that courage will be necessary as we face the challenges of the last days.

No matter our theological perspective—pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, or post-tribulation—one truth remains certain: Jesus is coming back for His people. Until that day, our mission is to share Jesus and carry His gospel message.

Carrying His message in the last days might mean we make a difference in someone else’s life by offering the hope of salvation or ministering healing and encouragement to another.  It might mean we stand for truth when lies are elevated as truth. Whatever the form, our lives are meant to be influential for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

How Courage Came Through for Me

After that conversation with my friend, the word courage stayed on my mind. I began reflecting on my own walk with Christ and the moments when courage was essential—when I needed the strength to do what frightened me.

Here are a few personal stories:

Courage Story #1

One evening at a local restaurant, the manager told me he suffered from chronic pain.
Though my first Bible study, Quest for Wholeness: Healing the Broken, was based on Jehovah Rapha—the Lord Who Heals—I was too afraid in that moment to tell him about Jesus’ healing power.

The next day, conviction set in. I prayed for forgiveness and courage, then wrote the man a letter sharing my own healing story and how Jesus could do the same for him.
With trembling hands but a faithful heart, I drove back to the restaurant and delivered the letter.

Courage Story #2

When my children were young, our neighborhood planned an activity that went against my deeply held personal convictions—convictions tied to my own salvation experience.
I didn’t know how to address it, but God led me to write a letter to everyone in the neighborhood explaining why I couldn’t participate, even knowing some wouldn’t understand.

Though I feared their response, I prayed for courage—and God made me brave.
A few were offended, but others later told me they felt strengthened in their own faith.

Courage Story #3

Over twenty years ago, while teaching a women’s Bible study, a woman made a comment just before I began that directly contradicted the lesson I was about to teach.
In that moment, I had to choose between avoiding conflict or honoring God’s truth.

As I stood to teach, I silently prayed, “Lord, give me the courage to teach what You want me to teach.” That prayer has carried me through countless similar moments since then. Each time, God has given me the courage I needed to faithfully share His message.

Courage Story #4

One day, God prompted my husband and me to invite a homeless man to join us for lunch.
I remember feeling apprehensive—worried about what others might think. But we prayed for courage to obey, and God was faithful.

After the meal, when my husband went to pay the bill, the waiter asked why we had done that.
My husband replied, “Because of all that Jesus has done for us.”
The waiter was deeply moved and shared that he had been sensing the Lord drawing him back to Himself.

Since that day, God has given us similar opportunities to show His love in unexpected ways.

Courage Story #5

Driving home from seminary one day, I prayed, “Lord, use me to change the world.”
Almost immediately, I saw a man on the side of the road holding a sign for food.
In my spirit, I heard God whisper, “Are you willing to do that one person at a time?”

At first, I argued. I was alone, far from town, and it didn’t feel safe.
But the Lord’s prompting overruled my fear. I knew if He called me to it, He would protect me through it.

So, I prayed and did what He asked me to do.

Choosing Courage Today

I share these stories to encourage you because we all battle fear when God calls us to step beyond our comfort zones.
Our message will sometimes make others uncomfortable—and it may cost us something to share it. In America, the cost has been small so far, but I believe we are entering a time when standing firm for Jesus will cost us more than before. Once again, the tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s assassination reminds us that it could cost us everything. That’s why we must choose courage.

Courage is defined as the ability to do something that frightens us. Charlie Kirk once said that courage is nothing more than a decision. The disciples modeled that decision in Acts 4:23-31 when they gathered together and prayed for boldness to speak God’s Word.

We must do the same—seeking the Holy Spirit’s anointing to speak God’s word boldly and courageously and for Him to give us an urgency that matches the times in which we live.

 My Prayer for You

My prayer is that these stories stir something deep within you—a holy resolve to stand firm in faith and walk courageously wherever God places you. Ask the Lord to fill you with His boldness today, to give you eyes to see opportunities around you, and a heart willing to obey even when it’s hard. The world may resist truth, but God is still working through courageous believers who refuse to be silent.

Be one of them.

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