In his book The Road to Character, David Brooks writes about two different ways to find our purpose in life. In the first method, we ask, “What do I want from life?” In the second method, we ask, “What does life want from me?”
In this second way of thinking, Brooks writes, we realize that we are “summoned by life”—placed in a specific moment in history with specific needs that we can meet.
From a biblical perspective, we are each summoned by God, placed in a specific time with specific needs that he will help us meet in the world. It takes courage to respond to that call so that we can live out the good purpose he has planned for us:
“Here is what I am commanding you to do. Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. I am the LORD your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NIrV
The world needs more people who will ask what God wants from them and have the courage to rise to it. But let’s be honest—that can feel easier said than done. Fear can paralyze us, luring us into retreating, resisting, and ultimately rejecting God’s greater purposes for us. The moment we hope and dream, we may be plagued by doubts like these:
- I’m too insignificant.
- My efforts won’t make a difference.
- I will fail.
- I’m not good enough, smart enough, or strong enough.
But God doesn’t just tell us to not be afraid. He also gives us the way out of fear — the promise that he will be with us.
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13 NIV
We don’t have to muster up courage on our own. Jesus empowered his followers to be courageous; they overcame fear simply because they knew the God they were walking with.
The world labeled Peter and John: Unschooled. Ordinary. No reason to think their lives mattered or could make a difference. But God had different plans. By simply spending time with Jesus, Peter and John developed the courage to speak up, live by conviction, and make the world a better place.
To help us develop this kind of courage, we put together a seven-day spiritual plan with articles, Quick Quiet Times, and podcast episodes for each day. First, we will learn how walking with God gives us courage. Then we will take on our fears of failure and rejection so that we can respond to God’s call and live out his purpose for our lives.
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