Rise Up. Be Bold.

For us as believers, we have the ability to be bold because we have faith that our God is good and He can do immeasurable things in and through us.

When I think of the word bold, I imagine someone who isn’t afraid to speak their mind. To do what needs to get done. Someone who has determination to face the challenges no matter their weaknesses or hesitations. Someone who is filled with great faith. As I reflect on my life, I can see all of the challenges I have had to face. What I went through was a part of a journey to create boldness in me.

One of the challenges I faced this year that I was not expecting was making the decision to leave my job. I had been teaching at the school I was at for about 4 years. Things seemed to be going well. My teammates and I worked well together, we took care of one another, and we were building a good foundation in our grade level. On top of that my husband and I were expecting our first child and we were looking forward to buying a home together. I felt safe and secure in the life that I was working so hard for. Unfortunately, after months of dealing with pressure and unfair work conditions from my administration, I decided to resign from my position. This decision left me confused, hurt, and wounded. What did I do wrong to deserve this treatment? What was I going to do now that I was jobless and had a child on the way? How would I help provide for my family?

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Through all of my challenges this year, I was faced with the choice to either give up hope or lean into the presence of God in my distress. I spent many months doing the former. I lived in a lot of fear and anxiety over what I didn’t understand rather than trusting God in His purpose. Isaiah 41:10 is a verse that I returned to frequently during this time. It says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." In the first half of this verse, God is commanding us to not live in fear because He is with us. There is no reason to be afraid. Then in the second half He concludes by reminding us that it is He who strengthens us and helps us. He is upholding us no matter the circumstance. And because He does all of those things, we have nothing to fear. We have the freedom to live in boldness.

This is something I had to consciously choose to do every day. Rather than living in my fear and anxiety of the challenges and mistreatment I had faced, I had to remind myself of God, the one who is strengthening me. I wouldn’t characterize myself as being bold in those moments, but I will say that I have more boldness now because going through those challenges pushed me to rely on a God who is greater than myself.

Continue to seek and spend time with God in moments of self-doubt and in moments of victory.

For us as believers, we have the ability to be bold because we have faith that our God is good and He can do immeasurable things in and through us. He gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can rise up and be bold. Continue to seek and spend time with God in moments of self-doubt and in moments of victory. He will be the one to empower you always to rise up and be bold.

N. Ntxawg Vaaj (Priscilla Vang) is currently residing in Colorado. She has been married to Ntxawg (Ger) for 2.5 years and they have a baby girl, Selah. N. Ntxawg enjoys adventurous activities, such as traveling and hiking. She also likes to bake and craft in her spare time.