God Created You for Boldness

Not only does God want us to fear him with awe and wonder instead of the world, but he also asks that we would speak up on his behalf.

Jesus told his disciples that when he returned to the Father, they would experience persecution, betrayals, imprisonment, and even death because of their faith in him. But he assured them they had nothing to fear from the world because he had overcome it.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

—John 16:33

Despite threats and persecution, the apostles boldly preached the good news of the gospel, and miracles, signs, and wonders confirmed their message. Consider an account in Acts 3 and 4. After the lame man was healed at the gate called Beautiful, the priests, temple leader, and Sadducees took Peter and John into custody and interrogated them because they healed on the Sabbath and preached that Christ had been raised from the dead.

When the religious leaders asked Peter and John by what power they healed the lame man, Peter, full of the Holy Ghost, boldly said:

Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we today are being examined concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, how this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands before you whole.

—Acts 4:8–10

Acts 4 goes on to say that “when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it” (vv. 13–14).

Realizing they couldn’t deny that a miracle had taken place since the healed man was standing before them and all the people knew what happened to him, the religious leaders threatened Peter and John, commanding them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. “But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot help but declare what we have seen and heard’’ (Acts 4:19–20).

How might God be asking you to step away from fear and step out in boldness?