And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
Gideon is hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat in secret so raiders won't steal it, when an angel greets him with "the Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor." It's almost funny if you picture the scene — a scared man crouched in a pit, being called mighty and valiant by someone who apparently sees something he can't see in himself yet.
What's easy to miss is that the greeting comes before Gideon does anything brave. He hasn't fought yet. He's hiding, and doubting, and about to argue with the angel about how his family is the weakest in the tribe. The title "mighty man of valor" isn't a reward for courage already shown — it's spoken over him first, as an identity to grow into.
Maybe the way you see yourself right now doesn't match anything close to brave or capable. This story suggests that's not necessarily the final word on who you are. Sometimes what's true about you gets spoken before it's visible — even to you.
If you can't see anything brave in yourself right now, it might be worth wondering whether someone else already does.
A short video on this is coming soon — for now, read on.