President Theodore Roosevelt once said: "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly... who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly."
To be valiant means possessing or showing courage, determination, bravery, and strength. In Scripture, the Hebrew word chayil carries the idea of strength, capability, skill, and valor.
In Psalm 60, David - as king of Israel - reaches out to God while confronting enemies on every side (an event connected to the victories described in 2 Samuel 8). He acknowledges both God's great power and the painful reality that the Lord had not been with Israel in the recent past. In the midst of the crisis, David pleads for divine help and finishes the psalm with hope: "Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies." (Psalm 60:11–12)
When we face overwhelming problems, it is tempting to sit back and wait for God to fix everything. While some situations are truly beyond our control, God does not call us to passivity. We are responsible to do everything within our power - even when it is hard, dangerous, or scary.
Being valiant means stepping forward with courage in difficult circumstances. It means proclaiming our faith and trust in God while actively doing what we know is right. Our willingness to serve - rather than simply standing back and watching - allows God to use our efforts alongside His power to accomplish His will.
This is not about declaring our own strength or trying to force God to our side. It is about faithful obedience. As servants of God and soldiers of Christ, we are called to be valiant - trusting Him fully while giving our all.
The battles may be fierce, but through God we will do valiantly.