Make Me As Bold As a 7th Grader!

There is a 7th grade boy who rides the same bus as my 5th grade son. At the beginning of the school year, the 7th grade boy asked my son if he was a Christian. My son answered, “Yes,” to which the boy replied, “Cool.” Both my son and I were intrigued by the question. After all, the boys attend a public school.

Then, a few weeks ago, my son came home from school with another story about the 7th grade boy on the bus.

That day, the boy was talking to another student on the bus and asked him the same question he had asked my son earlier in the year. 

Are you a Christian? When the boy answered the question with uncertainly, he proceeded to share the Gospel with him and prayed with him to invite Jesus into his heart. On the bus. Of a public school.

My son was amazed. “I can’t wait until the teachers see the videotape from the bus today,” he said. “I hope that someday I can be brave enough to talk to people like that.”

Me, too, buddy. Me, too.

I am in awe when I hear stories about people being bold for Jesus. Especially 7th grade boys. Because being bold is something I struggle with daily, particularly when it comes to my faith. In my heart, I know that I am called to be bold. That God has equipped me with such a trait.

2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

But it doesn't come easy for me. And it’s not comfortable. And in my head I have a thousand and one reasons why I can’t.

It’s not the right time. 
It’s not the right place. (Really, God? On a public school bus?) 
I don’t have the right words. 
I don’t have the right audience.
I could go on, but I think you get the idea. 

But what would happen if for just one week, I (perhaps we?) threw all these reservations aside so that we could just BE BOLD, with the abandon of that 7th grader on my son's bus. 

What if we were bold in our marriages, bold in our parenting, bold in our relationships, and, most importantly, bold in our faith? How would that change our relationship with our spouse, our kids, our friends, God? I’m venturing to bet it would be for the better … on all counts.

So this week, I’m praying for boldness. I’m praying that God will silence the lies that suppress courage. I’m praying that opportunities surface to step out and BE BOLD. 

And I’m praying these things for me … and for each of you!

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