When I start a painting, I’m tempted to give up even before I begin. This is because I know what challenges lie ahead. I have to think through composition, colour mixing, time, energy, and what I want the painting to convey. It’s easier to watch another painting video instead! But easy doesn’t produce, so I press on.

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After some painting, I then get to the ugly and difficult part which I hope no one else sees! This is the moment I have to fight discouragement as the negative self-talk emerges. I can give into the discouragement or have courage to pick up those brushes, mix that paint, use the knowledge I have, learn from mistakes, knowing it’s not going to be perfect, and do my best. Why do I continue? I know, by my experience and others’, that courage and growth are products of perseverance. And so is a successful painting.

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If I don’t approach my painting with courage, I won’t fulfil my love for art. Translate that need for courage into my growth as a child of God, and it gets real. Who, in Scripture, gives me courage to press on through the ugly and afflicting times? As I contemplate this, I realised God’s Word is overflowing with the faith-filled and courageous. God, in his wisdom and love for us, knew that in this broken world our faith would be severely challenged, so he preserved Scripture to offer us the courage to ‘not grow weary in doing good’ (2 Thessalonians 3:13).

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My first thought was how Paul encouraged Timothy to ‘be watchful in all things, endure afflictions…fulfil your ministry’ (2 Timothy 4:3–7). Paul warned Timothy others would not ‘endure’. They would be distracted by their ‘own desires’, turning ‘their ears away from truth’. Paul exemplified courage in saying ‘I have fought the good fight…kept the faith’. In 2Timothy 2 we see how Christ’s example encouraged Paul, and Paul instilled in Timothy the strength to in turn encourage the early church. This ensured ‘faithful men would be able to teach others also’ into future generations. 2 Timothy is full of this courage.

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My next thought is of Esther, whose courage saved her family and nation. She was not alone as Mordecai was there to challenge and encourage her, but alone she went to the king with courage and with the resolve ‘if I perish, I perish’ (Esther 4:16).

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Job had the courage to hold onto his faithful God in spite of immeasurable adversity, through tragedy, illness, and suspicion from those closest to him. Even his wife told him to ‘curse God and die’ (Job 2:9).

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Who else comes to mind? Abraham and Sarah moving to an unknown land in simple obedience and trust in God. Joseph exhibiting courage over and over again. Deborah stepping up when she was needed for battle. Mary, the mother of Jesus, in her quiet courage clinging to God from the moment of the conception to her son’s death on the cross. Oh, to have that kind of courage as a parent! The early Christians whose faith was recorded in Hebrews 10:32–35, as they suffered ‘being made a spectacle of’ for following Christ and ‘being a companion of Paul’. They maintained courage while their ‘belongings were plundered’. Paul strengthened them to ‘not cast away their confidence which has great reward’.

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These and many more didn’t shy away from the fact adversity would come in various ways. But how and why did they live courageously? These are the questions we must confidently answer.

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Firstly, they knew who they belonged to (Isaiah 41:10) and whose battle it was (1 Samuel 17:47). They knew the difference between Satan who was staring at them and God who was watching out for them. Satan is waiting for the moment to strike like a lion does for his prey (1 Peter 5:6–8), so God is ready to protect, as a hen does, gathering her chicks under her wings (Psalm 16:1–4). ‘The Lord is faithful…strengthen and guard from the evil one’ (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Despite feelings of doubt, confusion, fear, anger, and mourning, they committed themselves to a powerful and loving God; ‘their heart is fixed…trusting in the Lord’ (Psalm 112:7). Why? Because God was always committed to them. ‘Be strong and of good courage…God is with you wherever you go’ (Joshua 1:9).

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Secondly, as Noah was, they were prepared. They listened to God’s will and knew the Scriptures like David. Like Daniel, they prayed without ceasing. They were committed to faithfulness before the adversity came, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were.