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Approved and verified accurate by the Local Outreach Ministry Coordinator of the Department of Spiritual Life on Oct. 2, 2025.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
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Our sinful nature often rises in hardship, but God calls us to remain courageous. In scripture, we are reminded that true faith bears fruit and that our actions serve as living proof of a loving God.
James isn't saying that salvation is earned by works, but that living faith cannot remain stagnant. It must bear fruit.
When we choose kindness instead of hate, patience instead of irritation, love instead of indifference or ignorance, we reveal that the Holy Spirit is at work in us. The fruits of the Spirit aren’t seasonal things, and they don't rot away when life gets difficult. They are, in fact, most visible when the leaves fall from the tree.
There’s a familiar saying throughout the Christian community and in the church: "Act in such a way that you are living proof of a loving God."
We don’t know the original author, but the truth rests in Scripture itself. Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another," (John 13:35, NIV).
To be "living proof” means our lives consistently reflect God's love, especially when tested.
Our sinful nature and old Adam may want to lash out, but instead we should mirror God’s Son, Jesus. The one who lived the perfect life so that we don’t have to earn our salvation. Not sinfully reactive, but Spirit-led. When people see courage and compassion flowing out of us in hard times, they see a faith that is alive. Not an empty branch, but one bearing fruit.
That's the challenge before us: act in such a way that you are living proof of a loving God.
Remaining steadfast is one of the most challenging things I believe we strive for here on Earth. As difficult as it may be, however, I also believe it’s one of the easiest Godly attributes we as humans can achieve.
We are called to remain courageous and pursue goodness not because life is easy, but because Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33). In moments of hardship, our faith is refined like gold in fire (1 Peter 1:6-7), revealing not just who we are, but who God is shaping us to become.
Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the presence of Christ in the midst of it. And goodness is not a performance — it is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), cultivated in us through grace.
When we choose courage and goodness, especially when it’s hard, we bear witness to the transformative power of the gospel and reflect the character of our Savior, who remained faithful even to His death.
Courageous Faith
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In one of the New Testament’s General Epistles, James (the half-brother of Jesus) writes:
Who are you, really, when the going gets tough?
It’s easy to be the courageous, loving and kind individual when life is smooth-sailing. When everyone in your family and friend group is healthy, when things are constantly on schedule, when there’s more than enough money in the savings account and when you find the penny on the ground face-up. How can you not be grateful?
What about when things don’t go your way, though? When those same blessings begin to drift and dwindle, suddenly the rose-colored glasses come off, and our true selves often rise to the surface. In those moments when suddenly everything gets turned on its head, we’re confronted with the reality that our sinful nature leans toward selfishness, impatience and, most often, anger.
It’s uncomfortable to admit. In a world that constantly justifies anger and selfish ambition in the pursuit of personal gain, we must remember that this is the exact opposite of who God calls us to be.
"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
– James 2:17, NIV
