20 Seconds. Insane Courage

"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."
— Benjamin Mee, We Bought a Zoo

I have found this to be remarkably true.

Many of the most significant moments in my life did not require extraordinary talent, perfect timing, or unwavering confidence. They simply required a few seconds of courage. A difficult conversation. An opportunity that felt intimidating. An invitation extended to a stranger. A step of faith when staying comfortable would have been much easier.

Looking back, many of the things that shaped my life most were born in twenty seconds of courage.

When I think about this kind of bravery, I think about Daniel.

Living in Babylon, Daniel faced constant pressure to compromise his faith. Yet when King Darius signed a decree making prayer illegal, Daniel did not panic, hide, or make excuses.

Scripture tells us:
"When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house... and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before." (Daniel 6:10)

Imagine those few moments. Daniel knew the consequences. He knew a lions' den awaited him. Yet he chose obedience over fear.

Perhaps the most courageous moment of Daniel's story lasted only a few seconds—the decision to walk toward the window and pray rather than away from it.
That decision changed everything.

The courage we admire in Daniel was not the absence of fear; it was the presence of faith. He trusted that God's approval mattered more than Babylon's acceptance.

Most of us will never face a lions' den, but we will face moments that require courage. A conversation we have been avoiding. A risk God is asking us to take. An act of forgiveness. A chance to share our faith. An opportunity to serve.

The gap between where we are and where God is calling us to be is often crossed in a few seconds of courage.

What is the courageous thing God is asking you to do today?
You do not need enough courage for the next year. You may only need enough for the next twenty seconds.

Twenty seconds to make the call.
Twenty seconds to send the text.
Twenty seconds to say yes.
Twenty seconds to take the next faithful step.

"Be strong and courageous... for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

Be brave.
Just for twenty seconds.
Who knows what God might do on the other side of it?