"Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord". 2 Tim. 1:8

I pray for courage and boldness a lot. I pray the Father would fill me with His Spirit so that I can be bold like Elijah was with the 400 prophets, but it seems I end up with the spirit of Elijah, when he ran from Jezebel.

Paul told Timothy: "I put you in rememberance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you ... .
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity [fear]; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." ver.6-7

And at the same time, I take hope in the truth that the Apostle Paul, though such a courageous servant of the Lord, asked the Church to pray for him to be bold. Eph.6:19

Paul was a loving friend and constant encouragement to Timothy, and it seemed that this may have been one of the reasons for this timid pastor to become the brave servant of the Lord that I have read about.

Though I'm not that familiar with the reliability of "Foxes Book of Martyrs", it supposedly shows that Timothy, at the end of his life, was very courageous and steadfast in his faith, and even unto death.

"Timothy was the celebrated disciple of St. Paul, and bishop of Ephesus, where he zealously governed the Church until A.D. 97. At this period, as the pagans were about to celebrate a feast called Catagogion, Timothy, meeting the procession, severely reproved them for their ridiculous idolatry, which so exasperated the people that they fell upon him with their clubs, and beat him in so dreadful a manner that he expired of the bruises two days later." -John Fox

I suppose in my life I will not have to die such a death, though it would be an honor, and then again, who knows, with the way this nation is changing so quickly toward forsaking the Lord. But whatever may come, I can take courage that God did work in Timothy, and trust He will do the same for me.

I may have to deal with my timidity for the rest of my life, but by God's grace, I can overcome, and perhaps not every single moment, but more and more as I grow in the knowledge of His grace and love and truth.
And may I always give God the glory. Amen.