Courage in the Lonely Hour

Jun 14, 2007 08:14 AM EDT

By Charles Stanley

Psalm 23

Christians sometimes make the mistake of regarding godly men and women of Scripture as being biblical superheroes. But the truth is, they were people just like us. The Lord loves you and me as much as He loved Moses, David, or Gideon.

These biblical saints experienced many difficult and often lonely experiences. David was hunted; Jeremiah was rejected; Paul faced prison and persecution. And yet, each one held tight to the promise that God would be with him (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8). That's why David wrote in Psalm 23:4: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me."

The saints of the Bible shared a conviction that they were doing the Lord's work. With this passion and courage, they had a faith that all the forces of evil could never destroy.

We, too, are doing God's work in our world. We may not earn recognition, but we will likely face persecution. When that day comes, we can be sure God will be with us and enable us to fulfill His purpose.

Don't place humble men like Joshua or Joseph on a pedestal. They earned their place in history because they served the Lord faithfully, not as a result of personal achievement. The legacy of these saints is to trust God and have the courage to follow Him, even when obedience is inconvenient or difficult. Your legacy can be the same if you choose to obey the Lord.

Used with Permission