Today’s Bible Verse About Courage:
Numbers 32:9
"For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them. (KJV)"
Introduction: What is Courage and Why Do We Need It?
Courage is the ability to face fear, danger, or difficulty with confidence and determination despite feeling fearful. Courage does not equal the absence of fear; rather it means the willingness to overcome it. Courage comes in many forms such as standing up for what’s right, defending oneself or others against attackers, pursuing one’s dreams, or dealing with adversity head-on. We need courage because life presents many unpredictable situations that demand courageous responses if we wish to grow as individuals, reach goals more effectively, and make positive contributions to society.
Courage to Face Our Fears
In this section, we will investigate what the Bible teaches us about having the courage to face our fears. We’ll consider three verses that urge us to be strong and brave when facing obstacles, to trust the Lord completely, and remember He is with us.
Joshua 1:9 – Be Strong and Courageous
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV)
This verse was part of God’s instructions to Joshua when he led the Israelites into their promised land. God encouraged him to lead with strength and courage, knowing He would always be there with them. This verse serves as a reminder that no matter the challenges or difficulties we encounter in life, with Him by our side, we can overcome any difficulty that comes our way without fearing what lies ahead; His plan and purpose await all of us!
Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is My Light and My Salvation
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (KJV)
This verse forms part of David’s song of trust in God. David declared that the Lord was his light and salvation, meaning He provided guidance and delivered him from evil forces. Additionally, He served as his stronghold – meaning He offered protection and security from harm and danger. This verse assures us that we can trust in the power and love of our creator to overcome fears; there is no need to fear anyone or anything as He stands with us on every side.
Isaiah 41:10 – Do Not Fear, For I Am With You
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (KJV)
This verse is part of God’s promise to His people when they were facing exile and oppression, to encourage them not to fear because He would always be with them and strengthen, assist, and uphold them with His righteous hand. This verse comforts us that strength can be found through faith; there is no need to fear anything because God is faithful and powerful!
Courage to Obey God’s Will
In this section, we will look at examples from the Bible of people who exemplified courage by obeying God even when it was difficult or dangerous. We can learn from their faith and actions; how they trusted that he would deliver them and fulfill his promises.
Daniel 3:16-18 – We Will Not Serve Your Gods
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up. (NKJV)
Daniel 3 tells the tale of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – three young men captured by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who ordered everyone to worship a golden image or face torture and death. These three refused, knowing it went against God’s will; thus the three said to the king “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter; should our God deliver us from your hands he will free us out. But let it be known to you king that we will not worship any gods or worship an image made out of gold that you have set up.”
These men showed incredible courage by accepting God’s will even when it meant facing death. They did not compromise their faith or worship other gods, trusting that He could save them but nonetheless honoring him regardless. Instead of fearing kings or fire, these courageous souls put God first in everything they did.
Acts 4:19-20 – We Cannot NOT Speak of What We Have Seen and Heard
But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (NIV)
Acts 4 tells the tale of Peter and John, two apostles arrested by Jewish leaders for preaching about Jesus and healing a lame man through His name. Threats were issued against them by these leaders, but Peter and John defied these demands, telling the leaders “You judge whether it is right in God’s eyes for us to listen more than Him, because all we can speak is what has been seen and heard”.
These men were remarkable examples of courageous obedience to God’s will, even when it meant facing persecution. They never stopped preaching the Gospel or performing miracles in Jesus’ name, testifying freely about what they witnessed or experienced, nor submitting to human authorities more than God himself.
Hebrews 11:8 – By Faith Abraham Obeyed
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (NKJV)
Hebrews 11 tells the tale of Abraham, the father of faith, who obeyed God when called upon by Him to leave his country and family behind and journey in faith to a place He would show him. According to the writer of Hebrews, Abraham obeyed when called out to go out in faith to an inheritance site, but he wasn’t sure where exactly to find himself headed – it’s been written that Abraham went without knowing where exactly his journey led.
Abraham showed tremendous courage in his willingness to accept God’s will, even when it meant leaving everything behind. He did not doubt or question His calling or promises, instead blindly following God’s direction without knowing its final destination, trusting not in himself but only God for guidance and provision.
Courage to Endure Trials and Suffering
This section of our discussion will delve into what the Bible teaches about how we can face and overcome life’s trials and difficulties. We will look at three passages that demonstrate God’s presence with us, His support during trials, and how He uses trials for both our good and His glory.
Psalm 46:1-3 – God is Our Refuge and Strength
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. (KJV)
Psalm 46 is an expression of praise and trust in the protection and power of God, declaring Him to be our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore, even though the earth gives way and mountains fall into the sea, we won’t fear. Using vivid imagery to describe natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis, he affirms that even during such chaos and destruction, God remains our refuge and strength.
This Psalm conveys that God can always be trusted as our source of strength when troubled times strike, never leaving or forsaking us in His care. As the Lord of hosts, Jacob’s God, and the city’s God, He can still the seas and put an end to wars, as well as quiet our fears and bring peace into our lives, inviting us all to simply remain still and acknowledge his authority over all things.
Romans 8:35-37 – We Are More Than Conquerors Through Christ!
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (NIV)
Romans 8 is an uplifting chapter that extols the incredible blessings of being in Christ Jesus, our Lord. The Apostle Paul writes about how we have been justified through faith, freed from condemnation, adopted as God’s children, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, assured of God’s love, and ultimately destined for glory—nothing can separate us from His love that lives within Christ Jesus our Lord!
Paul acknowledges that following Christ does not guarantee freedom from suffering; in fact, we share in His sufferings for His glory. Paul poses rhetorical questions to challenge us to consider what might possibly separate us from His love; then lists some sources of Christian suffering, such as tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword, as examples of how suffering occurs among Christians; and finally cites Psalm 44:22 as proof that believers must bear up under suffering for His sake.
But Paul didn’t stop there. He went on to declare that in all these things we are more than conquerors because He loved us. To gain a decisive victory or overcome with force is one definition of conquering, while “more than” refers to surpassing or exceeding in terms of the prefix “more than.” According to Paul’s logic, this means we aren’t just barely surviving or barely winning our sufferings but are triumphant over them through Christ’s love, which empowers us to endure, persevere, hope, rejoice, and rejoice even in our sufferings while assuring us they are working toward our good and God’s glory.
James 1:2-4 – Take Joy When Faced with Various Forms of Trials and Difficulties in Life
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (WEB)
James is a letter that instructs Christians on how to live out their faith practically. James writes as an advocate of God and of Jesus Christ and addresses his readers as “The Twelve Tribes in Dispersion”, suggesting he’s writing directly to Jewish Christians scattered by persecution or other circumstances; James offers them encouragement while providing advice for managing various problems they might face as followers of Christ.
He begins by discussing how to respond to trials of all kinds. He urges his listeners to count it all joy when faced with challenges of different kinds, even though this might seem strange or impossible: how can one find joy even when facing problems, difficulties, hardships, or temptations? Or be happy even while hurting?
James wrote in James 1 that we can take joy from trials by knowing they will produce something good: steadfastness or endurance. Staying firm or constant under pressure or difficulty; not giving in when things become tough. Trusting God and obeying His will, no matter the difficulty.
James writes that perseverance leads to an ideal result: we become perfect and complete in every way, lacking nothing. But this doesn’t mean becoming sinless in this life; rather, it means maturing as Christians who reflect the character and likeness of Christ more closely growing in faith, love, wisdom, patience, joy, peace, and other virtues that please Him.
James exhorts us to view trials as opportunities for growth and transformation rather than obstacles or hindrances, to see them as gifts from God rather than curses or punishments, and to take pleasure when encountering trials of all types.
Conclusion: How to Apply These Verses to Our Lives
These verses speak volumes about God’s love, mercy, and grace, as well as how we can respond to his gift of salvation with faith, obedience, and thanks. But how can we incorporate these passages into our daily lives? Here are a few practical suggestions:
- Memorize these verses and repeat them often while praying over them to remind yourself of God’s truth and promises.
- Share them with those in need or facing difficulties who need encouragement from God’s word or assistance from prayerful friends or relatives; their verses could provide hope.
- Live out these verses in your daily life by showing God’s love to others through acts of kindness, generosity, and obedience to his will and commands. Thank Him for everything He has done for you while thanking Him for being faithful.