Gideon’s Journey—How Courage Is Grown, Not Born

 Courage isn’t always loud. Sometimes it begins in a winepress!

When we meet Gideon in Judges 6, he’s not leading armies or preaching bold sermons. He’s hiding—threshing wheat in secret to avoid the Midianite raiders. Fear defines his posture, and doubt fills his heart. Yet into that quiet, trembling moment, the angel of the Lord speaks a startling word:

“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

It’s almost laughable. Gideon doesn’t feel mighty. He doesn’t even feel seen. He questions God’s presence, protests his own insignificance, and asks for sign after sign. But God doesn’t rebuke him. Instead, He walks with Gideon—patiently, purposefully—growing courage one step at a time.

How Courage Took Root

1. A New Identity Spoken Over Him
God doesn’t name Gideon by his fear, but by his future. “Mighty warrior” isn’t a description—it’s a declaration. Before Gideon lifts a sword, God lifts his vision.

2. Honest Dialogue with God
Gideon’s first response isn’t faith—it’s frustration. “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened?” Have you ever said or thought this?  His questions don’t disqualify him. They become the soil where deeper trust can grow.

3. Reassurance Through Signs
Gideon asks for proof, and God provides it—graciously and repeatedly. From the fire on the rock to the fleece tests, and even a dream overheard in the enemy camp, God meets Gideon in his need for assurance. He doesn’t shame the process—He shepherds it.  However, there is a time when asking for reassurance is displeasing to God.  Please note that it is critical to understand the circumstance when asking for signs for reassurance is proper, and when it will be improper.  I will deal with this in a later blog.  But here, Gideon needs affirmation that God is speaking to him.    

4. Obedience in Small Steps
Before leading Israel, Gideon must confront idolatry in his own backyard. He tears down his father’s altar to Baal—but he does it at night, afraid of the townspeople. Still, God honors even hesitant obedience. Courage doesn’t require bravado—it requires movement.

5. Faith in God’s Strategy
When Gideon finally assembles an army, God shrinks it. Thirty-two thousand men become three hundred. The odds look impossible—but courage grows when we trust God’s methods, not our own strength which is the point of the entire story for us to consider.

What Gideon Teaches Us

Gideon didn’t start brave. He became brave by trusting God, step by step. His story reminds us:

• Courage is cultivated through relationship—not personality.
• God equips those He calls, even when they feel unqualified.
• Obedience precedes confidence—we often gain boldness after we act, not before.

So, where are you threshing wheat in fear, wondering if God sees you? What small act of obedience could begin your journey toward valor?  What reassurance do you need to seek from God to verify His call?

God doesn’t need fearless heroes. He builds them.