Courage
God's presence is the source of every courage — be strong and of good heart.
Scripture on Courage
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Joshua 1:9— KJV
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Deuteronomy 31:6— KJV
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Psalm 27:14— KJV
“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”
Isaiah 41:13— KJV
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
1 Corinthians 16:13— KJV
“Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him.”
2 Chronicles 32:7— KJV
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33— KJV
“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
Psalm 31:24— KJV
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
Ephesians 6:10— KJV
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
Acts 4:31— KJV
“In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”
Psalm 56:4— KJV
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31— KJV
“And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.”
Daniel 10:19— KJV
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
Proverbs 28:1— KJV
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7— KJV
Devotional Reflection
Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is taking the step forward while fear is still present, because you know God goes before you. This is the courage God called Joshua into—'Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.'
Notice that God didn't give Joshua an easy path. He gave him a presence. The task was daunting—crossing the Jordan, facing fortified cities, leading an entire nation. But the promise was not that it would be easy. The promise was: 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'
Courage in the biblical sense is not bravado. It is not the absence of feeling afraid. It is trusting that 'if God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31). It is the boldness that comes from having prayed, like the early church in Acts 4, and been filled with the Holy Spirit.
The disciples who fled at the crucifixion were the same people who stood before councils and empires declaring the resurrection without flinching. What changed? They had encountered the risen Christ and been filled with His Spirit.
You have the same Spirit. Ask Him for courage today.
A Prayer for Courage
Lord, give me courage for what lies ahead. I feel afraid and uncertain, but I know that You have not given me a spirit of fear. Fill me with Your Spirit and with supernatural boldness. Help me to stand firm in faith when it costs something. Be my strength and my shield. I will not fear, for You are with me. Amen.
Go Deeper
Read the book of Joshua for a sustained portrait of courage in action. Study Acts 4 to see how the early church prayed for and received boldness.