God’s Mighty Hero

by Maureen Miller

“You need to be brave, like Gideon,” God said.

“Who… me?” I replied, then busied myself. Maybe he’ll go away.

But, of course, God didn’t go away. Instead, he repeated, “Be like Gideon.”

He’s serious, I thought. Still, I argued. “But Father, I’m not courageous like Gideon. In fact, I’m really more like—”

“Gideon,” God interrupted, “Remember, he wasn’t always brave. He considered himself the least of the least, but he was obedient—trusting the angel of the Lord to act on his behalf. And what did that take?”

“Courage?” I mumbled. Perhaps I needed to refresh my memory.

And there it was. Gideon, son of Joash, was threshing wheat while hiding from the Israelites’ enemy, the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared, then said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you” (Judges 6:12 NLT).

Mighty hero? But that’s what the angel proclaimed, even before Gideon demonstrated a single valiant act.

“But how am I supposed to be courageous?”

God answered my question with a question. “What did the prophet responding to the Israelites’ prayer do?”

What did he do?

I read more. Seems the prophet reminded God’s people how he’d shown up for them in the past, and he offered an exhortation as well—

“I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. I told you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites…’ But you have not listened” (6:8-10a).

How does this apply to me?

Finally, “Father, forgive me if I’ve failed to steward my gift in a manner that glorifies you and benefits others. I know you’ve called me to write, but sometimes I’m… afraid.”

Boy, wasn’t that the truth. Questions like, What if I make people angry? or What if some don’t agree with me? swirled in my mind, but then—

“What matters most is whether I’m pleased. I’ve given you a story—fully equipping you to tell it.”

***

This call to courage came nearly two decades ago, and I’m sorry to say, I wasn’t always faithful. Indeed, sometimes I failed to put words on the page. Failed to be… brave.

But in his mercy, God reminded me of all he had done—how he’d brought me through years of infertility, promising me through his Word that he would use my story to encourage others. And yes, that I would one day be a mom.

He also reminded me of the love I have for our three children’s birth moms—how they’re honored because they chose life for their babies. And he reminded me of truth discovered in Psalm 139—

“You made the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it” (vv. 13-14 NLT).

But besides these reminders, God also convicted me of sin, just as he’d done in Gideon’s day.

There were times he’d say, “You’re putting others in higher priority, caring more what they think of you than what I think of you. Return to me, and find rest.”

Isn’t God good? Even when he convicts us, he does so with mercy and grace, with love leading to repentance.

It took many years from when he first called me to be courageous until I finally began writing Gideon’s Book. This story introduces themes that aren’t merely controversial but prove consequential, perhaps even life-saving.

It’s my hope Gideon’s Book will stir healthy conversation about abortion and adoption, as well as point readers to acknowledge God’s redemptive character. More, it highlights the guiding power of God’s Word.

I still don’t feel brave, but God has given me stones of remembrance too many to count, depicting His constant presence in my life.

Indeed, God calls me courageous—saying, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”

And that, dear friends—no matter what we’re called to do—is always enough.

Maureen Miller contributes to several online devotion sites, Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures, and her local newspaper. She’s married to her childhood sweetheart Bill. They have three “born in their hearts” children and live on Selah Farm in the NC mountains. Maureen’s debut novel, Gideon’s Book, is due to release spring 2025. Visit Maureen on her website at https://penningpansies.com/.