Tests of courage; we all have them from time to time during our lifetime. We may not always recognize them, but they are there. Tests come from one of two sources; either from God or from the devil.  Tests reveal our true character.  The purpose of the devil’s tests is to destroy our true character, but tests from God Almighty are for the purpose of building His character in us.

Sometimes we just think they are irritations or inconveniences but really, they are tests for us to be courageous.  How we handle these tests will prove whether we stand for and with God, or deny Him with our actions and words.

They come in different arenas of our lives and sometimes are very subtle. We will just mention two very common but subtle ones here.  Lying is a big one; jealousy is probably a close runner up. Both have their roots in the spirit of fear; just so you know where and who the true culprit is.  Most people lie because they don’t want to be “caught” in something; it is an untrue statement given with the intent to deceive.   Jealous make a person suspicious of another, based on the belief that they enjoy and have an advantage that we don’t have.  Though there could be some truth in the fact that a person with more finances may have more advantage over one who doesn’t have good finances, that doesn’t not mean or give us the right to be jealous of them, thinking they are better.  God does not work that way.

There are many examples in the Bible of those who failed in courage and of their successes too. The Bible does not hide the faults of God people; and thankfully it also does not hide their successes. Both are there as examples to teach us and help us to have success in our tests of courage.

Abraham, our Father of Faith, had a problem with telling lies. Yes, yes, he did. He lied about Sarah, saying she was his sister and not saying she was his wife. Now some of you may know that she was indeed his half-sister and think that what he said was not a lie. But I submit to you that because he did not tell the whole truth, then what he said gave a distorted view of the truth and therefore, what he said was a lie. The reason for his lies has its roots in fear. Fear for his own life. Oh, so now we can also see a spirit of selfishness in his heart. He wanted to save his own life at the cost of compromising Sarah. Do you get the picture of how failure in area or one test of courage leads to another tests? It can sometimes get very complicated, that’s for sure. So, let’s move on to his successes of his tests of courage. You know the ones; where he believed and talked with God about saving Sodom and Gomorrah; where he believed God for a child in his old age; and perhaps the most important one, where he believed that God would supply the lamb for the sacrifice in place of his precious son, Isaac. (Genesis 18; 20; 22)

Daniel and the three Hebrew Children, they passed their tests of courage. Daniel continued to pray even though the law said he should not; and he was courageous even when he was put in the lion’s den. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, would not bow before the king and was place in the fiery furnace. All passed their test of courage. God saved Daniel from being eaten by the lions, even though those same lions ate those who put him in the den! God saved the Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego by appearing with them in the furnace and they came out of that fire without any harm or even the smell of fire on them. (Daniel, chapters 1-6)

David, a man after God’s own heart, called such because he was always quick to repent when he did wrong. David had courage to go against Goliath when no one else in Israel had that courage. (1 Samuel 17:1-51) God showed His strength in David as a warrior and leader in many battles. However, David was also of guilty of adultery and murder; but God still redeemed him and used him mightily as king. (2 Samuel 11)

As we get into the New Testament, we see many of Jesus’ disciples having some problems too.

Peter, is the only one of the disciples who walked on the water with Jesus, but it seems that people first remember him for denying Jesus. A note should also be made here that the Bible says that the other disciples denied Jesus too in the Garden of Gethsemane, and ran away. We also need to remember that Peter is the one who first declared that Jesus is the Son of God. (Matthew 14:22-31; 16:16; 26:33-75)

Thomas, is always referred to as doubting Thomas because he refused to believe that Jesus was alive until he put his hand in Jesus’ side and touch his nail pierced hands. (John 20:24-29)

Matthew, was a tax collector and cheated people on what they were to pay.

However, we also must make it clear that all of Jesus’ Disciples became men of valor, testifying of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and did many miracles through Jesus Name; bringing many into the Kingdom of God in those early missionary churches.

Paul, formerly Saul, and though he was not one of the Disciples, he became an Apostle of Jesus after his conversion on the road to Damascus. His heart was changed from a persecutor of the Church to a preserver of the Church, and wrote many books of the New Testament. (Acts 9:1-19; 22:1-14)

The testimonies and examples could go on and on, but the point of this article is to encourage us to keep going with Jesus. Even if we fail at one test of courage doesn’t mean it’s the last and only test, or that our life is a failure. God gives us chances to increase our faith so our successes of courage will far out-weigh and surpass any of our failures. (Philippians 1:6) Hearing and hearing the Word of God increases our faith. (Romans 10:17)

The key is to keep our focus on God’s plan for us, the purpose He has for us, and never give up trying to complete our race for the prize He has for us. The key is to keep our heart pure before him, no matter how many times we have to repent and begin again. Each time we come closes to many more successes in our courage to be like Him.  It is a journey of faith and it’s our courage to grow our faith that will bring us to the completion of our life’s journey filled with great and mighty exploits for Jesus. Faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word of God; and successes come from continually obeying God’s Word.   (Romans 10:17; 1 John 1:9)