From Reproach to Bravery! 2

“The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, Mighty hero, the LORD is with you.” Judges 6:12

Life reproach can take many forms, just as bravery can take many forms. It can be physical or mental, emotional or spiritual; it can also be an internal or external threat; it depends on the sentiment at hand. However, when life’s reproach becomes too severe to bear, it will cause a person to lose faith in God and his promises. It can also lead to a person isolating themselves from others and forget that God’s presence is present in their lives.

Gideon was an example of this. He was a man who had lost faith in God and his promises. He could not trust God because of his fear and insecurity about the circumstances of life that surrounded him and his family. Gideon felt inadequate, weak, or unworthy of God’s love and care because of life’s reproach even when God called him a “mighty hero.” He questioned the angel of the Lord, saying;

“if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Has, not the LORD brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.” (Judges 6:13).

Brethren, I know you might have questions about life circumstances because of how things have been going for you. You may think that it is okay to feel like a failure or think that God’s presence isn’t in your life and that His promises will never come to pass. I would say no. I need you to remember that God is always there for you no matter what happens. He knows everything about you and sees the best in you just as He sees Gideon as a “Mighty Hero.”

Despite what Gideon sees as his weakness, God sees him as a strong man who can overcome any obstacle. He sees him as a man of valor who later became a leader and is also listed as one of the heroes of faith in the Bible. So, brethren, when life insults you, don’t give up. If something doesn’t go according to plan, keep going and keep trusting God. He will never let you down because He is the only one who has the power to turn your life around for good. Psalm 145:9 says, “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”

Prayer:
Oh Lord, transform my weakness to your strength in Jesus’ name.