Today’s devotional from Annie F. Downs’ book opens by positing that God “knows we need dreams in pieces because we would be too scared of the whole puzzle.” Even the dreams that seem big in our minds can be part of God’s bigger plan for us. Does this excite you or scare you?

After sharing the scriptures related to David’s willing challenge to the giant Goliath, Downs writes, “He [David] just chose to be brave at every turn—to do his job and protect the sheep. And as the challenges grew in scope, so did David’s belief in the ways God had uniquely created him. More importantly, David wholly believed in who God is and that God had a role for him to play that would require courage. The same is true for me and you.”

In order for us to believe that God has a role for us to play in the world we must have courage: courage to believe at all, courage to act on that belief, and ultimately courage to believe in the God who made us, equips us and goes with us.

Which of those is easiest for you to believe, and which is the most difficult?

Can you share one thing you’re being brave in right now? (For me, it stepping out to write these posts each day.)