A natural reaction when we hit a difficult challenge is to wish we did not have to deal with it. We wish it would go away. We all want stress free lives. Life with God isn’t dialed in that way.

We need commitment, courage and conviction.

Peter and John went up to the temple to worship and encountered a man lame from birth. Peter told the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Before everyone’s eyes he did rise and walk for the first time in his life. Acts 3:1-10. Peter and John were committed to the new way of life Jesus Christ’s resurrection had made possible.

But not everyone was happy about this miracle. The Jewish leaders arrested them and had the men brought before their court. Peter gave a bold and straight forward explanation of who they were and by what authority they preached and did such miracles. When he finished the assembled leaders heard that it was the by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, “whom you crucified”, that the lame man was made well. It took unwavering courage for Peter to look these men in the eye and tell them they were complicit in the death of Jesus. Peter did not flinch in this moment. That’s a definition of courage.

The Jews gave the men a reprimand. “Don’t speak anymore in this man’s name” they were told. To which Peter and John answered, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20). They were convicted they must speak in Christ’s name and explain the purpose of His life, death and resurrection. Conviction leads people to move forward in their mission. Conviction leads to success.

When Peter and John were released they immediately went to their friends in the church and told what had happened. Together they prayed to God and asked that they would be granted further boldness to speak and act in the name of Christ.

I find these mean and women did not pray for deliverance from the resistance to their mission. They prayed for strength to go forward (Acts 4:23-31). It took commitment, courage and conviction to pray this way.

Are you looking for the right approach to dealing with the everyday stresses and problems of life? Start with these three C’s (commitment, courage and conviction). God’s Holy Spirit can work powerfully through such highly motivated Christians.