How to find courage and face pressure

Post inspired by SafePoint session on the topic:

Why we crave recognition and why it destroys us
Pavel Eder
11.1.2025
5
min
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Courage is not something a person is born with. It's a decision. The decision to go against fear, against comfort, against the pressure of the surroundings. We often feel like we have to be strong, sure of ourselves, that we have to have all the answers. But what if courage means something else? Courage means taking a step, even if you're afraid.

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God can use you anywhere‍

Each of us has places that have shaped our lives. For me, it was a hardcore music scene. We were part of something that made sense to us -- playing in a band, supporting friends, going to concerts. Years later, I went back to the last concert of old friends.

Atmosphere? Noise, jumping into the crowd, screaming of the frontman into the microphone, t-shirts with pentagrams, people with black lenses. I realized I had moved on somewhere else in my life. I didn't feel comfortable there anymore. But then I was like, “God, if you can use me here, show me why. “

The answer came faster than I expected.

After a few minutes, an old acquaintance came to me with whom we once talked about God. We hadn't seen each other for two years, but now, in that least likely place, we started talking about faith, about life's struggles, about hope. And in the middle of a noisy club, surrounded by people with inverted crosses on their T-shirts, we prayed together.

If I hadn't been there that night, it never would have happened.

This is not something I experience every day. In fact, situations like this scare me. I have a fear that if I tell someone about God, I will be embarrassed, that I will harass someone, that people will reject me. But I see time and time again that if I take a step of faith, when I choose to overcome fear, God will begin to act.

How do ordinary people become courageous leaders?‍

A similar story played out in the Bible. The apostles Peter and John were ordinary fishermen. They let themselves be called by Jesus, they learned from him, but when the crisis came, when Jesus was arrested, Peter failed. Out of fear, he denied his Master.

But still, then something changed.

A few weeks later, the two apostles healed the lame man. The crowd gathered, and they boldly said:

📖 “We cannot fail to speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20)

And what happened? They were arrested. Before trial, they could have backed down, they could have saved themselves by staying silent. But they didn't. They were no longer afraid.

So what has changed?

One thing: Between failure and courage, they met the risen Jesus. Suddenly they knew that death had no last word. Jesus was dead and suddenly came to them. And if death doesn't have the last word, what should they be afraid of?‍

What if what you do today matters more than you think?‍

When Peter and John were later released from prison, they did not go into hiding, did not write complaints, did not address how unfair it was.

They went among friends and prayed:

📖 “God, give us courage to speak your word boldly” (Acts 4:29).

And that's when something unexpected happened. The place where they prayed shook. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and with new courage they went out among the people.

Sometimes we decide on our next direction in completely ordinary moments. The moment you decide to tell a friend about God. When do you choose to stand for the truth, even if you're in the minority. When will you refuse to compromise.

Your courage can make a difference more than you think.‍

Courage changes the world — even in history‍

Many people have faced tough decisions before us. When the Seventh-day Adventist Church was formed in the 19th century, its founders not only spoke about the faith, but also stood on the side of justice and truly lived the faith. They weren't afraid to stand up for what they thought was right:

  • One of the founders of the church Joseph Bates He fought boldly and radically for the abolition of slavery.
  • First President of the Adventist Church John Byington He hid runaway slaves in his home and risked everything.
  • Sojourner Truth, a former slave who was the first to win a trial over a white man and fight for women's rights, was also an Adventist.

Courage is not just about words. It's about what you do, what you stand for and where you stand.

God doesn't need perfect people. It needs people willing to act‍

What about you?

There are moments when you have to take a stand. When will you be pressured, when will they want to shut you up, when will it be easier to shut up. But Jesus' message has never been comfortable.

📖 “It is more necessary to obey God than to men.” (Acts 5:29)

We need courage. Every day.

Pray for courage!

How about you start each day with a prayer: “God, give me courage? Because the real courage is not the absence of fear. Courage means acting in spite of fear.‍

Maybe you're at the beginning of something big. Maybe God wants to use you. Will you make that move?

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