June 3
Courage
to Stand
“But suppose someone is ashamed of me and my words. I will be ashamed of them in front of my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 10:33 (NIrV)
Carolina sat in the breakroom, swirling her coffee absentmindedly as her coworkers chatted around her. The topic had shifted to religion, a subject she usually avoided. One of them, Mia, leaned over and asked, “Carolina, are you religious? Do you believe in Jesus?”
Carolina’s heart pounded. She knew the truth, but the fear of being judged was overwhelming. She forced a smile and said, “No, not really. I mean, I grew up going to church, but I’m not really into that stuff.”
As the words left her mouth, guilt hit her like a wave. She had denied her faith, the very foundation of her life. She justified it to herself, thinking, It’s just easier this way. They wouldn’t understand.
But the moment haunted her. That night, as she sat in her quiet apartment, she opened her Bible to seek comfort. The verse from Matthew 10:33 stared back at her: “But suppose someone is ashamed of me and my words. I will be ashamed of them in front of my Father who is in heaven.” Tears welled in her eyes as the weight of her denial sunk in.
“God, I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I was afraid. I didn’t want them to think less of me, but I denied You. Please forgive me and help me to be braver.”
In the days that followed, Carolina prayed for courage. She started small, mentioning church to Mia in passing and subtly sharing how her faith gave her strength. Each step felt like climbing a mountain, but with every conversation, her confidence grew.
One Friday afternoon, the breakroom was quieter than usual. Mia was there again, scrolling through her phone. Carolina hesitated, then took a deep breath. “Hey, Mia, remember the other day when you asked me about religion?”
Mia looked up and nodded.
“I wasn’t honest with you,” Carolina admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “I am a Christian. My faith is really important to me. I was just afraid to share it.”
Mia’s face softened. “Thank you for telling me. Honestly, I admire that. It takes courage to stand by what you believe. I don’t believe in that stuff. But I respect your views.”
That moment marked a turning point for Carolina. She realized that denying her faith only brought her further from the peace and strength she needed. By owning her belief in Jesus, she felt a freedom and authenticity she hadn’t experienced before.
Carolina knew she would face more questions and possibly judgment in the future, but she also knew she wasn’t alone. God was with her, giving her the courage to stand firm.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for Your endless mercy and forgiveness.
Like Carolina, we sometimes let fear take over and fail to stand boldly for You.
Please help us to find the courage to share our faith with others, even when it feels uncomfortable or risky.
Give us the strength to remember that our identity in You is greater than any opinion of the world.
Help us to honor You in our words and actions, trusting that You will guide us through every conversation.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
