Be Bold

by Annie Yorty

I’ve noticed an interesting inverse correlation in today’s culture. Self-promotion—the expression of one’s characteristics, opinions, or activities—has rocketed off the charts while truth-promotion has plummeted. We have grown timid in our role as image-bearers of the Way, the Truth, and the Life. But in the Bible, we find numerous ways to overcome our reticence to be bold.

Stephen’s Perception of God

When I think of bold—fearless in danger, the martyrs of the Church often come to mind. How did they face the awful torture and gruesome deaths devised by evil hearts? In the book of Acts, Stephen tells exactly what made him bold unto the point of death.

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” (Acts 7:55-56 NLT)

I like how this verse delineates what Stephen saw and what he said as a result. They’re exactly the same. He didn’t hesitate to declare the Truth in the face of a screaming mob with rocks in their hands.

Stephen saw Truth Himself and never wavered.

7 Situations in which the Bible Tells Us to be Bold

1. In Danger

The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion. (Proverbs 28:1 NASB)

Having a clear perception of the power of God and the certainty of His purpose enables us to stand firm in dangerous situations.

2. In Our Journey Away from Sin

Now they journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the sons of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians. (Numbers 33:3 NASB)

When God freed His people from slavery in Egypt, they didn’t need to run for their lives. They walked boldly out of bondage with complete safety from their former masters. We can do the same, knowing that God has bound Satan. He no longer holds power over us.

3. Under Duress

Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord, my mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. (1 Samuel 2:1 NASB)

Hannah, scorned and mocked because she could not conceive a child, found a bold and ready answer for her oppressors in the provision of a child by the Lord. We can all point to the Lord’s provision whenever we are rejected.

4. In Strength

On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. (Psalm 138:3 NASB)

Knowing that God is always near and always cares gives us inner confidence and strength to be bold.

5. In Living and Dying

According to my eager expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20 NASB)

God infuses every event, even death, with eternal purpose. Embracing His good purpose helps us to let go of temporal worries and boldly face circumstances in a way that glorifies Him.

6. In confidence

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)

Friends, we all desperately need God’s mercy. It’s soothing salve for our wounds inflicted by sin. If you are God’s child through salvation in Jesus Christ, He always welcomes you to come and receive His undeserved favor.

7. In Speaking about God

And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31 NASB)

The Bible tells us repeatedly to be bold in speaking up for God. The book of Acts alone has at least eight verses about bold speech. God places His Spirit within us to guide us in speaking Truth. He helps us to know when and what to say.

Boldness Correlates to Our Perception of God

How well we perceive God—His person, presence, provision, and purpose—correlates directly to our boldness in any area of life. Stephen understood God’s glory and purpose as he spoke Truth. The safety of his physical body was inconsequential because he knew his spirit was untouchable.

Much like today’s culture, the crowd was not impressed or convinced by Truth that Stephen spoke. The Bible says they covered their ears and then stoned Stephen to death.

We, too, may receive a negative response, though probably not as severe as Stephen. Like Stephen, danger should not deter us from Truth-promotion.

His story and others like him inspire me to be bold. What about you?

Join the conversation:

Have you ever struggled to be bold for God? What helped you to overcome your timidity?

I welcome your comments.

Speaking of Being Bold

It’s time to vote. I encourage you to read We Need You to Vote in the Mid-Term Elections by Debbie Wilson. You may be a citizen of heaven, but if you’re also an American citizen, you should boldly stand for Truth in elections. Be sure to understand the platform and voting history of your candidates and choose those who most closely align with biblical standards.

We Need You to Vote in the Mid-Term Elections

Copyright ©2022 Annie Yorty