We all go through hard, scary and uncomfortable things. And in those moments, we can choose to run and hide, or we can have courage, facing those things head-on. If you’re facing something big today, be brave! Your heavenly Father walks beside you. These Bible verses on courage prove it.
All Scripture references are written in NIV unless otherwise noted.
What’s Here:
14 Bible Verses About Courage
1. Joshua 1:9
“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.”
In any situation, we can trade fear for courage. Why? Because the God of the universe, the Creator of the world and your heavenly Father, is with you! It doesn’t matter where life takes you; he’s by your side wherever you go. Psalm 139 holds further proof of this truth:
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. — Psalm 139:7-10
2. 1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Maybe you’ve experienced hardship in your walk with Jesus. It’s true that being a Christian requires courage. You might face questions, confusion or anger. Jesus told us in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”
However, when we give ourselves to the work of the Lord, we can rest assured that our work is not in vain. The things we do to follow Jesus are worth more than anything we could imagine here. In fact, Matthew 5:12 tells us, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”
3. John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
In this passage, Jesus is comforting his disciples after predicting his betrayal and his departure from the world. After following Jesus so closely, wouldn’t you be afraid if you heard he was leaving? The disciples were.
But here, Jesus shares this truth: He has given us his peace. Jesus’ peace is free and lasting. It’s peace that thrives even when our circumstances are heavy and dark. It’s peace that persists even when we’re afraid, inspiring us to be brave.
4. Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?”
When God is on our side, protecting us and saving us from our enemies, who do we really have to fear? No one! Just like David, who faced Goliath with nothing more than a stone, we too can face what comes our way with courage and boldness.
5. 2 Timothy 1:7
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Through the Holy Spirit, God lives inside of us. And that truth shouldn’t make us timid. Instead, it should be a constant reminder of the power we have inside of us through our Father.
Related Read: Comprehending the Fruit of the Spirit
6. 1 John 4:4
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
In this passage, the “one who is in the world” refers to our enemy, Satan. When the enemy throws things our way, like fear and pain, we can know this: The One who lives inside of us, our Father, is greater than any of those things. And through him, we’ve overcome.
7. Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Have you ever heard such an encouraging promise? God promises to strengthen us, help us and uphold us with his own hand.
And did you know that the right hand symbolizes a place of honor? Not only does God support us through our trials, but he honors us through them too.
8. Psalm 56:3-4
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise — in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
King David, who wrote many of the Psalms, was no stranger to having enemies. As a young teen, David faced the giant Goliath. As a man, David’s own son, Absalom, rebelled against him and tried to take his throne.
But in every hard moment, God came through for David, protecting him and fulfilling his plan for David’s life. So David trusted in God and knew that no mortal man could take his eternal hope. This is true for us too.
9. John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Here, Jesus is speaking to his disciples about what they’ll face after his death. He told them that while they would face trouble, they could also “take heart,” or have courage and hope.
Why? Jesus has overcome the sin, darkness and trouble of this world. And through him, we’re overcomers too. One day, despite our current circumstances, we’ll be with him eternally, free from the trouble this world brings.
10. Psalm 23:4
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Jesus is often called the good Shepherd. Do you know why? Shepherds take care of their sheep. They guide them, protect them and correct them when needed. Because of the shepherd’s care, sheep live peacefully, knowing someone is looking out for their every need.
Our good Shepherd does the same for us. His rod and staff, or guidance and protection, comfort us because we know he’s with us and looking out for us. Even in the darkest of places, we can trust him.
11. Proverbs 28:1
“The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”
There’s a lot to fear in this world: poverty, natural disasters, our economy … the list goes on. And if we let it, fear will have us running scared, even if we’re not in immediate danger.
But those who follow Jesus know that he’s with us, no matter what happens next. And this truth inspires us to be bold as lions instead of being overcome by fear.
12. Psalm 112:6-7
“Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
Have you ever waited for news after a medical test? Or maybe you’ve waited to receive the “you’ve got the job” call after an interview. In these moments, it can be hard to think of anything other than the terrifying what-ifs.
This verse tells us that we don’t have to be shaken by or fearful of bad news. Instead, we can have steadfast hearts knowing that God knows and wants what’s best for us. He won’t leave us or forsake us, no matter what the news is.
Related Read: What Does It Mean to Trust in the Lord With All Your Heart?
13. Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
While it’s a short verse, it packs a punch. Who gives us strength? God. What can we do with his help? Anything. If you’re facing difficulty today, write this verse down and keep it somewhere close. You CAN do this with God’s help. That’s a promise.
14. Isaiah 12:2
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”
Do you notice anything interesting about this verse? Look at this line: “The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength …” The emphasis here is beautifully important. It’s easy to forget sometimes that God himself, the Lord of all, is our strength, defense and salvation.
It’s not our might that saves us. It’s not our acts or even our level of faith. No, it’s God who brings us salvation and victory. All we have to do is trust in him.
Courageous Thidaporn: Fighting for Her Dream Despite All Odds
What does it look like to take these Scriptures to heart? Thidaporn, a young woman living in Thailand, is the perfect picture of courage.
Thidaporn lives in an impoverished community with her family. At 18, she dreams of a future in the medical field. However, she faces two difficult battles to reach her goal: the cost of tuition and the heavy competition between her and other students.
Just like many families living in poverty, Thidaporn’s family can’t afford her tuition. Instead, they must use what little they have to buy food and pay rent.
In addition to the cost, Thidaporn must study incredibly hard to earn and keep a spot at university. Only exceptional grades will be considered for medical school.
Even with the odds stacked against her, Thidaporn presses on with courage. And her sponsor, David, continuously encourages her through letters and support.
“Sometimes I cried. Sometimes, I thought of giving up because the study was so hard. But every time I feel that I always remember the conversations and encouragement from my sponsor. Then I feel encouraged.” — Thidaporn
Now, with her tuition covered through the support of her sponsor, Thidaporn continues to pursue a career in medicine. Although she’s faced many challenges, she keeps overcoming them, one by one.
While Thidaporn was saddened to not get accepted into her first choice of university, she didn’t give up. She now attends the Faculty of Nursing at a university in her country’s central region.
While the study and curriculum are often difficult, Thidaporn is making progress. She hopes to become a nurse or even a doctor, providing critical medical care to her community.
Despite the odds, Thidaporn is chasing her dreams with her community and heavenly Father cheering her on. And guess what? Your heavenly Father is cheering you on today too! No matter what you might face, take courage — you can do all things through him.
What Else Does the Bible Say?
In need of strength? Hope? Grace? See what the Bible says about these topics and more.
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