Right now, people are scared because of the current collapse in the stock market, fear over the spread of the coronavirus, the fall in the price of oil, the continued bad news circulating endlessly every single day, and the uncertainty of what’s coming next.  It’s in times like these that you need to be valiant.  God is not surprised by any of this and he still has something for us to do or we would be out of here.  Yet, he will use valiant Christians to get his work done.  Will you be one of them or will you panic like the rest of the world and cave into the emotional stress?  I encourage you to be valiant.

Gideon was valiant – Jud 6:11-12 – Midian oppressed and prevailed against Israel until they were greatly impoverished [Jud 6:1-6].  In the midst of this horrible situation Gideon was threshing wheat by the winepress and hiding it from the Midianites.  He was not starving like so many of the others.  He found a way to keep his family fed.  Because of this, the Lord chose him to lead Israel against the Midianites in battle so that he could deliver Israel out of their hand.  He knew that the Lord would deliver the Midianites into Israel’s hand [Jud 7:15].  The Lord said, “Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man,” [v.16].  He and his little army of 300 men defeated 135,000 Midianites.  And God will help you to handle what ever problem you’re facing by his grace.  Therefore, be valiant.

Jonathan was valiant – 1 Sam 14:6 – The Philistines gathered themselves together to fight against Israel.  Everyone including Saul, the king, was running scared or hiding.  They were in a miserable condition. They didn’t have the army [1 Sam 13:15] or the weapons [1 Sam 13:19-22] to fight the Philistines.  And yet, Jonathan convinced his armor bearer to attack a garrison of the Philistines that were lodged in high place.  He was certain that the Lord would give them the victory [1 Sam 14:6, 10, 12].  

David was valiant – 1 Sam 17:32, 45-46 – when the army of Israel was in a stalemate with the Philistines because of Goliath’s challenge, David said that he would accept the challenge and defeat the giant.  No one else had the courage to take him on.  But David knew that the Lord would deliver Goliath into his hand and so he was not afraid to take him on.  

Will you be valiant?  What are you going to do in this time of fear, distress and uncertainty?  Why don’t you be valiant?  Why don’t you be like these men?  Why don’t you strengthen your faith like the great heroes of the faith in Heb 11:32-40?  These are tough times but not nearly as tough as what all these others have been through.  And not nearly as tough as they’re going to be.  Be valiant.  Be an example to the believers.