A Little More Brave
Yesterday felt a little like David versus Goliath.
Recently, we’ve been enjoying watching House of David on Prime, with the first season centred around the famous story of David and Goliath.
Yesterday, Kyle, Emily and I joined thousands of Dunfermline supporters travelling through to Hampden Park in Glasgow for the Scottish Cup Final against Celtic – again!
We were also joined by three visiting BYU interns from America – Reagan, Will and Brooklyn – who fully embraced the noise, colour and party atmosphere of Scottish football.
Dunfermline were very much the underdogs.
Celtic had greater resources, a larger support, more expectation and history very much on their side.
It was a brilliant day out, although ultimately the victors were Celtic… again 
It was also very much a game of two halves.
In the first half, Dunfermline looked overwhelmed by the occasion.
But after the break, they came out fighting, played with greater belief and even managed to score.
Afterwards, Dunfermline’s manager reflected on the defeat and said something that really stayed with me: “We needed to be 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓.”
Reflecting this morning, that simple phrase lingered in my mind.
Because in many ways, the gospel of Jesus Christ has always been a story of minnows in giant arenas.
David facing Goliath.
A young Nephi returning to Jerusalem.
Esther standing before a king.
The stripling warriors marching into battle.
Ordinary people facing overwhelming odds with little more than faith, courage and trust in God.
Perhaps one of Satan’s greatest tools is intimidation.
The feeling that we are too small, too weak, too inexperienced or perhaps even just too ordinary.
Yet again and again in my experience I know that the Lord works through people who simply choose to be brave.
Not fearless, or perfect, but just willing to step forward and face up to the size of the giants around them.
Sometimes bravery does not immediately change the scoreboard.
Dunfermline still lost 3–1.
But courage changes something inside us.
And perhaps faith itself is a form of bravery.
What giants in our lives are we being asked to face a little more bravely?
