As a pastor, people often come to me seeking comfort when they are going through tough situations. Trying times are inevitable in this life, and with courage from God, we can overcome anything. There are several instances in the Bible where God’s people were courageous, but how many times is courage mentioned in the Bible?
Courage is mentioned around 33 times in the Bible. According to Joshua 1:6-9, God mentions courage to Joshua as he leads the Israelites to Canaan. In Mark 6:50, Jesus mentions courage to His disciples when they are afraid after seeing Him walking on water, while Psalms 27:14 encourages us to take courage.
In this article, I invite you to delve into what courage is according to the Bible with me. Keep reading to also discover Bible verses about courage, examples of courage in the Bible, and how to get courage.
What is courage according to the Bible?
The Bible suggests that courage is a trait that is needed to overcome tribulation and is the opposite of fear.
According to Joshua 1:6-9, Joshua needed the courage to lead the Israelites to Canaan. This suggests that Joshua had to overcome tribulations and ensure that God’s people reach the Promised Land.
The Bible also implies that courage is the opposite of fear. In Mark 6:50, Jesus tells His disciples to take courage and not be afraid. This implies that not being afraid is courage. Many verses in the Bible talk of not fearing, which can be equated to courage. In Genesis 21:17, God tells Hagar not to fear when she was in the wilderness with her son. In Luke 1:30, Angel Gabriel tells Mary not to be afraid because she had God’s favor and would conceive Jesus, the son of God.
What The Bible Says About Courage?
According to the Bible, courage is given by God. It also suggests that courage is the opposite of fear and that it gives strength to overcome challenges.
In Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Moses tells Joshua to be courageous because he was the one to take the people of Israel to the Promised Land. He assured him that God is with him and will not forsake him. This implies that without God, Joshua would not have courage.
In Mark 6:50, Jesus tells His disciples to take courage and not be afraid. This was after they saw Him walking on water and thought He was a ghost when the wind was rocking their boat. This implies that the opposite of courage is fear.
Psalms 27:14 encourages people to wait for God, be strong, and take courage. This shows that courage gives strength to confront any difficulty, with confidence in God.
Bible verses about courage?
- In Joshua 1:6-9, God tells Joshua to have courage as he leads the people of Israel to the Promised Land after Moses’ death. He assures him that as long as he obeys Him, He will be with him throughout the journey.
- In 1 Chronicles 22:13, David encourages his son Solomon to have courage, because he was the one to build the house of the Lord. He assures Solomon that as long as he obeyed the rules that God commanded Moses for Israel, he would be successful.
- Acts 23:11, God tells Paul to have courage when he was detained in the barracks by the Roman Government. He tells Paul that just as he had testified for God in Jerusalem, he would do the same in Rome.
Examples of courage in the Bible
- According to Joshua 1:6-9, Joshua was courageous when he took on Moses’ role and led the Israelites to Canaan. God assures Joshua that as long as he obeys Him, He will be with him throughout the journey.
- In Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Moses encourages Joshua to be courageous as he leads the Israelites to Canaan. He assured him that God is with him and will not forsake him.
- Paul was courageous when he faced opposition and even death threats. According to Acts 23:11-14, the Jews plotted to kill him after he had been detained by the tribunal. Despite all this, Paul continues God’s work of preaching to people.
- In Joshua 2:2-11, Rahab mentions that the people’s courage failed when they heard that God has dried up the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross over. She was courageous when she housed the two spies sent by Joshua to Jericho and protected them from the king.
- According to 1 Chronicle 22:13, Solomon needed the courage to build the house of the Lord. David encourages him to obey the rules that God commanded Moses for Israel.
- In 2 Chronicles 15:8, Asa becomes courageous after hearing the prophecy of Azariah, son of Oded. Azariah told Asa that God was with him and would not forsake him if he did not forsake God. He got the courage to remove all the idols from the land of Judah and Benjamin and repaired the altar of the Lord.
- In Mathew 14:27, Jesus tells His disciples to take courage and not be afraid. They had seen Him walking on water and thought He was a ghost.
- In Acts 4:13, the ruler, elders, and teachers of the law in Jerusalem were astonished by the courage of Peter and John. The two had been arrested for teaching people about Jesus and stood by their words.
- In Acts 27: 22-25, Paul showed courage during the storm as they sailed from Crete. He urged the men trying to save the ship to have courage they would survive.
- In 2 Samuel 10:12, Joab encourages the Israelites battling the Ammonites and Syrians to be courageous for their people and that God would do what was good to Him.
Why does God tell us about courage?
God tells us about courage because he knows that we need to overcome adversities.
When God tells His people to have courage, there is a reason behind it, and He knows the plans He has for us. He knows that we can overcome whatever situation is before us. Courage comes from the understanding of God’s sovereignty, and the His plans and purpose for us cannot be obstructed. God knows that His people need courage in the adversities of life.
How do you get courage, according to the Bible?
According to the Bible, courage comes from God. The basis of courage is the promise of God’s power and presence when we have faith in Him. Courage comes only by having faith and confidence in God that He is with us and for us. In the Bible, God constantly tells various characters not to be afraid. He demonstrates great power by helping them overcome great adversaries. Reading these scriptures can also be a source of courage for anyone who believe in the Sovereignty of God.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.