Be Brave and Believe: Courage For Your Faith

Are you in the season of waiting? You’ve sown your seed, and now you’re waiting for a blade to come up, a harvest to spring forth—something to show for all your hard work of plowing and planting… the toil of praying and believing for the people and situations in your life.

Your soil may be the life of a wayward son or daughter. The seed your unconditional love. The ground may be your faltering marriage—the seed your forgiveness and prayers. It could be financial “seeds” sown in faith, believing in a divine reversal in your finances. You might be hoping and praying for a bumper crop from those seeds: a bonus at work or special finances that help you step into a new business venture.

Be Brave and Believe

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14 NLT).

Waiting can be hard. You’ve expended so much time—energy—prayers—resources (you fill in the blank) and now what?

Some might dig up the seed just to peek and see if anything is happening.

Some might spend their time worrying and fretting, letting doubt creep in. Was the seed good? Was it enough? Will it yield the harvest you were hoping for?

God’s Word is the Seed

“The seed is God’s Word” (Luke 8:11).

The Bible is filled with stories of waiting. Abraham, Sarah, Hannah—great men and women of faith who held a promise in their hearts and believed. The word of God was sown in the soil of their faith, and now they were waiting for the promise to be fulfilled, for the harvest to come forth.

What did they do after the seed was in the ground? What sustained them in the waiting period? Interestingly, the psalmist in Psalm 27:14 mentions courage. It takes courage to wait in faith and keep believing!

Consider Abraham

Abraham is considered the father of our faith, and there’s a good reason why! He waited 25 years from the time God promised him a son until the promise came to pass.

One evening, God called him outside his tent and told him, “‘Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!'” (Genesis 15:5)

It was an amazing promise and one that was very dear to his heart. The promise was sown… and now came the waiting. Now came the time when his faith was tested to his very core.

What Did He Do in the Waiting?

Abraham believed in God. He set his faith in the One who promised, the God who calls into being that which does not exist.

Eventually, the promise came true, and Abraham became a father of many nations. The Bible tells us, “This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing” (Romans 4:17).

Sarah had the same promise. The waiting was extra hard for her as her body grew old and her womb as good as dead. (See Romans 4:19.)

She tried to help things along by giving her servant Hagar to Abraham, thinking he could have a son with her. This plan backfired, and she was forced to wait again alongside her husband as he believed in God.

Then, one day, the Lord visited Abraham. Sarah eavesdropped on the conversation when the heavenly visitors told Abraham that Sarah would have a son within the year.

Nothing is Impossible With God

Sarah laughed when the Lord put a timeline on the promise. She was way past the age of childbearing! The Lord asked why she laughed and said:

“‘Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son'” (Genesis 18:14).

When she conceived, her doubt quickly turned to joy, and the child grew in her womb! They named him Isaac, which means “one who laughs” or “one who rejoices.” He was a daily reminder to Sarah that nothing is impossible with God!

Perseverance Pays Off

Another Old Testament story of faith is Elkanah’s wife, Hannah. Like Sarah, Hannah also desired a child. She was well-loved by her husband, but she was barren. She believed God could do the miraculous and persevered in faith for years.

Meanwhile, Elkanah’s second wife had several children and taunted Hannah in her pain. Amazingly, Hannah didn’t lash out at her antagonist!

Hannah returned to the temple every year, weeping, praying and asking the Lord for a child. Her perseverance paid off when her waiting time turned into a joyous moment when she conceived.

“Then Hannah prayed: ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord… Now I have an answer for my enemies…'” (1 Samuel 2:1).

Hannah dedicated her child, Samuel, to the Lord, and he became a mighty prophet of God.

Keep Showing Up

Simeon was a prophet who was eagerly waiting for the promised Messiah. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

He grew older and older, still waiting in faith and believing. One day, he was led by the Spirit to go to the temple. He showed up—and his waiting paid off when Joseph and Mary arrived to dedicate their child, Jesus, to the Lord.

Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God!

“Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation…” (Luke 2:28-30).

Sometimes, you just have to show up. And keep showing up, no matter how long the waiting season lasts!

What Do You Believe In?

What are you believing in God for? What harvest are you waiting for?

Waiting is not always easy. It can be long and hard. But this is your time to believe. This is your moment to persevere in faith and cling to God’s promises.

Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage. Let God strengthen your heart and believe.