Christian Courage: Facing Fear With Faith
1 March 2025 · 1 min read · Understanding the Bible
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act rightly in spite of it — and for the Christian, it's rooted in faith. Here's what Christian courage looks like and where it comes from.
Courage grounded in God's presence
The Bible's call to courage almost always rests on God's presence: '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.' We're brave not because we're strong, but because God is with us.
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.
Fear is not from God
The crippling kind of fear isn't from God: 'God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.' Courage grows as we receive from God the power, love, and clear thinking he offers in place of fear.
Courage acts in spite of fear
Christian courage doesn't wait to feel unafraid; it acts in faith even while afraid. The heroes of Scripture felt fear but trusted God and moved forward anyway. Courage is faith in action — doing the right, hard thing, trusting God with the outcome.
Christian courage means facing fear with faith — grounded in God's presence, freed from the spirit of fear, and willing to act rightly even while afraid. You don't have to feel fearless to be courageous; you just have to trust the God who is with you and move forward. Whatever you're facing, take heart: the God who commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous is with you, too.
