12 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness. (2 Corinthians 3:12 CSB)

“Fortune favours the bold” – “Fortune favours the brave” – “Fortune favours the strong” are common translations of a Latin proverb.

All of these begin with boldness. Yet, we often do not feel bold. We feel frightened and weak, not bold at all. Life can transpire to sap any boldness we might feel.

But it is well know that fortune does truly favor the bold. Those who will strike out against all odds to carve out something new or to drive forward against the prevailing tides.

This “boldness” requires fortitude and an appetite for failure. The bold are not strangers to failure. They embrace it and drive through failure to success. But the failure still exist.

This is where hope drives boldness.

In the faith life we begin with hope before we can act with great boldness. Only when we have solidified our hope, our basis for boldness, do we stride forward with confidence.