Choosing to Be Bold

First published in "Devozine," 
March-April 2017 edition

Psalm 138:3 
When I called, you answered me; 
you greatly emboldened me!

Sometimes I doubt my sacred worth.
Would fate just have me lose?
Although I feel the weight of doubt,
this I still can choose:
to be bold.

Sometimes I discount my own strength.
Do I have what it takes?
Yet even when I'm not convinced,
a choice I still can make:
to be bold.

Speech could falter, knees might shake,
and courage all rebel.
But stumbling over genuine words
does not mean I have failed
to be bold.

I might feel gripped and choked by fear,
afraid to lift my voice.
But timidity does not have the power
to rob me of my choice
to be bold.

God, replace our timidity with boldness. 
Remind us to trust in you and not to rely on feelings that waver. Amen.