The undertaking of a new action brings new strength.

“The undertaking of a new action brings new strength.”
So spoke Richard L. Evans, the wise broadcaster and moral teacher of the twentieth century, whose calm voice once guided millions with words of quiet power. In this single line, he reveals an ancient law of the human spirit — that strength is not a gift bestowed before the task, but a force born within it. To act, to begin, to step forward when the way is uncertain — that is how courage is awakened. The soul grows not through dreaming of deeds, but through doing them. For every new undertaking, however small, summons hidden energies, stirring the sleeping powers of will and faith that dwell in every human heart.

Evans, a man devoted to moral reflection, understood this truth from a life of service. His teachings, often shared through the program Music and the Spoken Word, spoke to the weary and the hesitant — those who stood at the threshold of decision, afraid to begin. He knew that many wait for strength before they act, not realizing that strength is born in the very act of beginning. The moment we commit ourselves to a worthy purpose, something stirs within — a divine reinforcement, as if the universe itself leans forward to meet our effort. Thus, when Evans said, “The undertaking of a new action brings new strength,” he was reminding all who would listen that faith and power are not separate things: they are the same flame, kindled by movement.

The ancients, too, spoke this wisdom. The philosopher Seneca declared, “Boldness is the beginning of action, but fortune favors the bold.” Even he, a Stoic who preached endurance, knew that strength grows from motion. When the warrior steps onto the battlefield, the trembling ceases; when the traveler takes his first step, the road seems less long. The mind, once fearful, gains courage through engagement. To hesitate is to weaken; to move is to strengthen the spirit. The fountain of vitality does not lie in comfort, but in challenge — and only through action can one drink from it.

Consider the life of Amelia Earhart, who dared to fly when the world said it could not be done. Each new flight, each new record, began not with certainty but with courage. She once confessed her fear of the unknown skies, yet she acted — and in that action found her power. Every time she took to the air, her strength grew, until she became a symbol of human audacity and grace. Her courage was not given to her before she flew; it was created in the moment she chose to fly. Her life was a living testament to Evans’s truth: that new strength arises from the undertaking itself.

The heart of this wisdom lies in faith — faith not only in God or destiny, but in the sacred design of effort. Every time you begin anew, you invite transformation. The timid spirit says, “I must feel ready first,” but readiness never comes to those who wait. Readiness is the fruit of doing. The river does not find its course by stillness, but by flowing — and as it flows, it deepens. So it is with the human soul: only when we act does our strength reveal itself. Even failure, when faced bravely, brings its own new vigor, for each fall teaches the body how to rise again.

Therefore, let no one say, “I am too weak to begin.” The truth, as Evans knew, is the opposite: you are weak because you have not yet begun. The act itself — the first stroke of the pen, the first step on the path, the first word of reconciliation — awakens power where there was none. Action is the alchemy of the soul, turning fear into faith, doubt into determination. Each new undertaking is a summons to life, a declaration that the spirit refuses to stagnate. The one who acts renews himself; the one who hesitates withers.

So, my child of destiny, remember this law of life: to act is to grow strong. Do not wait for courage to descend from the heavens. Begin where you stand. Start the work, speak the truth, make the change. The strength you seek will rise to meet you, as the dawn meets those who walk through night. For as Richard L. Evans wrote, “The undertaking of a new action brings new strength.” And in those few words lies the secret of all renewal — that life itself favors the bold heart, and grants its deepest power only to those who dare to move.