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-state License code: U8LCZSJQYF0FUAP6 0:00  Welcome — Introducing Lynn & Luba 0:44  How Lynn & Luba Met Through Glory of Zion Ministry 2:38  It Took Courage to Start — Luba's Story 3:08  Defining Courage: Biblical & Practical 4:10  What Held Luba Back — Stepping Into the Unknown 6:14  The Blessings That Followed — Lynn's Perspective 6:59  Getting to Know Each Other: Community & Connection 9:13  When God Tells You to Do Something — Trust the Step 9:53  Lynn's Courageous Moment: An Abraham-Like Journey 11:39  Courage Gives Way to Faith — Finding God in Oregon 12:00  Jan's Story: Choosing Courage During an Unplanned Pregnancy 13:03  The Courage to Trust God Through Mistakes 14:38  Biblical Characters Who Showed Courage: Job & Joshua 15:09  Luba on Job — Suffering, Loyalty & Surrendering to God 18:32  How Job's Story Carried Luba Through Losing Two Children 19:34  The One Thing That Makes Courage Possible: Love for God 21:17  Relationship With God Is the Foundation of Courage 21:55  Esther: Courage to Hide & Courage to Be Revealed 23:15  "For Such a Time as This" — Mordecai's Words to Esther 24:36  Fasting, Prayer & Getting God's Strategy 25:55  "If I Perish, I Perish" — Esther's Full Surrender 28:03  Mordecai's Courage: Refusing to Bow to Haman 29:35  Community in Courage — Esther's Prayer Army 30:41  Luba: Feeling the Prayers of Others 31:34  We Are the Body of Christ — United in Love 32:01  Taking Problems to the Courts of Heaven 33:35  God Sent Over $7,000 — A Real-Life Miracle 35:36  Speaking the Word Over Your Life — the Hebrew Practice of Hagah 36:46  Raising 9 Kids Alone, Tithing & Trusting God's Provision 37:33  Asking God "Who Are You?" — Three Hours Before His Throne 39:07  God Spoke Through Luba's 4-Year-Old Daughter 40:25  It Takes Courage to Believe You Are in His Heart 41:37  Closing Encouragement — Don't Be Discouraged, Keep Coming 42:03  Lynn: Written on the Palm of His Hand 42:45  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/@JustTalkinAboutJesus https://jan-johnson.com/ https://justtalkingaboutjesus.com/ https://janjohnsonauthor.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@JustTalkinAboutJesus Thanks 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!