20 Life-Changing Acts of Courage

One single act of courage can change a life…often many lives.

No doubt, if you live a “normal” life there will be decisions you have to make that take courage. You will often have to walk by faith, be willing to risk everything, and trust God for the results, which often seem slow to arrive.

Sometimes doing the right thing is not the easiest thing to do. Most of the time, it takes courage to follow your heart, conviction, or God’s calling on your life.

But, when we act with courage into the places where God leads, it always brings greater rewards than we could imagine.

I reflected recently on some random examples that I have seen people make over the last few years…some of them from within my own family…that took courage, but the results were huge. At the time, some of them may or may not have seemed to be that “big of a deal”…and some of them were obvious risks, but in the process of completing them, the courage required can be equally huge.

20 Random Life-Changing Acts of Courage

Leaving the job you hate (or love) so you can start the dream you’ve hidden.
Taking the first step towards your God-given dream when everyone else is saying it can’t be done.
Confronting the unspoken conflicts in a marriage.
Offering forgiveness even when undeserved.
Trusting God with money you don’t have.
Beginning a Christian ministry in a predominately Muslim country.
Letting go of the employee who is holding back the team, yet refuses to improve.
Attempting again something you’ve failed at so many times.
Planting a church…or trying to change an existing one.
Ending the friendship that always drags you down.
Trusting one more time the one who has hurt you so much.
Moving the family for a new “opportunity” when the outcome is unclear.
Speaking truth in love when it’s politically unpopular.
Releasing the right to get even, even at the expense of your pride.
Surrendering your will to God’s will.
Putting other’s agenda ahead of your own.
Standing up for someone everyone else is rejecting.
Reaching out to a stranger, because you felt “led” to do so.
Admit your struggle, sin, or failure to someone…even though you are afraid of the consequences.
Ask for help even though you’re embarrassed to do so.

As I stated, those are random examples and your examples will be different from mine. Granted, some of these “appear” harder than others…requiring more courage. I never know when I write a post like this which chord I will strike and with whom. I have learned, however, that context makes life relative. Your act of courage can be “equal” to mine if God is calling you to an unknown reality. Moving forward into uncertainty requires a courage you don’t always have initially. Choosing whether or not to move forward and mustering the needed courage, is often what separates the ones who achieve great things from those who remain disappointed with their progress in life.

Here’s a voice of encouragement to you today…if you know you need to move forward…but you are afraid…I understand. I’m praying you’ll find the courage to trust God with the outcome and do what you know to do next.

What is something you have had to do that took a great deal of courage?