A Call to Courage

Have you ever been afraid of the future? Maybe you feel as though you are in a rut, or maybe you are discouraged. Maybe you feel that you will have to face the problems and challenges of life all alone.

If any of these things are true of you, then take heart, because you are not the first child of God to feel that way. Jesus had a message for His disciples to give them hope as they faced an uncertain future, so they would not be afraid, but would be courageous.

During the last week of His life on Earth, Jesus knew His departure was at hand. So before He left His disciples, He wanted to encourage them. First, He warned them that they would face hardship and difficulty. But then He told them, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Jesus said, “Be of good cheer.” Another way to translate that phrase would be, “Be of good courage.” It was Christ’s call to courage in the lives of His frightened disciples. It suggests the result, rather than the cause. In other words, Jesus was not simply saying, “Cheer up. Come on, put a smile on your face!” He was saying more than that. He was saying, “Be brave. Be courageous.”

If you are courageous, cheerfulness will follow. We will face tribulation in the world, but He has overcome the world.