Step Out Anyway: What It Really Means to be Courageous

Send me a text and let me know your thoughts!In this rich and honest conversation on Just Talkin' About Jesus, host Jan sits down with friends Lynn Shortman and Luba Shalya to talk about something every believer wrestles with — courage. Together, these three women unpack what courage really looks like in the life of a Christian: not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act in faith anyway. Luba shares the courage it took to launch an online women's prayer group for Oregon, the grief of losing two children, and how speaking God's Word over her life — even 100 times a day — carried her through some of the hardest seasons imaginable. Lynn reflects on her Abraham-like leap of faith in 1977, packing up and driving across the country with no plan, which ultimately led her to meet God in a new place. Jan adds her own story of choosing life and integrity in the face of an unplanned pregnancy. The conversation goes deep into biblical examples of courage — Job's unwavering trust through catastrophic loss, Esther's surrender as she walked before the king declaring "if I perish, I perish," and Mordecai's refusal to bow. Woven throughout is a powerful thread: the more intimately you know God, the more courageous you become.https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/flow-stateLicense code: U8LCZSJQYF0FUAP60:00  Welcome — Introducing Lynn & Luba0:44  How Lynn & Luba Met Through Glory of Zion Ministry2:38  It Took Courage to Start — Luba's Story3:08  Defining Courage: Biblical & Practical4:10  What Held Luba Back — Stepping Into the Unknown6:14  The Blessings That Followed — Lynn's Perspective6:59  Getting to Know Each Other: Community & Connection9:13  When God Tells You to Do Something — Trust the Step9:53  Lynn's Courageous Moment: An Abraham-Like Journey11:39  Courage Gives Way to Faith — Finding God in Oregon12:00  Jan's Story: Choosing Courage During an Unplanned Pregnancy13:03  The Courage to Trust God Through Mistakes14:38  Biblical Characters Who Showed Courage: Job & Joshua15:09  Luba on Job — Suffering, Loyalty & Surrendering to God18:32  How Job's Story Carried Luba Through Losing Two Children19:34  The One Thing That Makes Courage Possible: Love for God21:17  Relationship With God Is the Foundation of Courage21:55  Esther: Courage to Hide & Courage to Be Revealed23:15  "For Such a Time as This" — Mordecai's Words to Esther24:36  Fasting, Prayer & Getting God's Strategy25:55  "If I Perish, I Perish" — Esther's Full Surrender28:03  Mordecai's Courage: Refusing to Bow to Haman29:35  Community in Courage — Esther's Prayer Army30:41  Luba: Feeling the Prayers of Others31:34  We Are the Body of Christ — United in Love32:01  Taking Problems to the Courts of Heaven33:35  God Sent Over $7,000 — A Real-Life Miracle35:36  Speaking the Word Over Your Life — the Hebrew Practice of Hagah36:46  Raising 9 Kids Alone, Tithing & Trusting God's Provision37:33  Asking God "Who Are You?" — Three Hours Before His Throne39:07  God Spoke Through Luba's 4-Year-Old Daughter40:25  It Takes Courage to Believe You Are in His Heart41:37  Closing Encouragement — Don't Be Discouraged, Keep Coming42:03  Lynn: Written on the Palm of His Hand42:45  Luba's Final Word: Find the Courage, He Will Answer Welcome to Just Talkin' About Jesus.I'm Jan Johnson, a seasoned believer who loves relationships and, you know, just talkin' about Jesus.Here you will find testimonies of those who God has changed through his grace.Stories of feeling unworthy because of being sex trafficked, or of radical redemption of a woman who grew up with abuse, neglect, abandonment and drugs. A story of an abortion survivor. This and more. Lean in now. Consider subscribing to this podcast, YouTube and Substack- all with the same name: Just Talkin' About Jesus!https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesushttps://jan-johnson.com/https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesusThanks for listening!If you have a story to tell, check out the form on my website- justtalkingaboutjesus.com.I'd love to connect with you!No, really.... hit me up!