Today we’re going to look at Bible Quotes: Courage in the Bible. I feel like this is one of those topics that we know the BIble talks about, but we just can’t remember what the Bible says about.
We know the stories of courage in the Bible, but when pressed to explain and define them, we might stumble? We know the stories but we have a hard time separating the definition of courage from the courageous person we’ve read about.
Here’s a definition of “Courage” I found, “With the gift of fortitude/courage, we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or even physical harm and death. The gift of courage allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil, especially with regard to goods or evils that are difficult.”
And, “While fortitude is sometimes called courage, it goes beyond what we normally think of as courage. Fortitude is the virtue of the martyrs that allows them to suffer death rather than to renounce the Christian Faith.”
Wait, there’s more, “Fortitude, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, also allows us to cope with poverty and loss, and to cultivate the Christian virtues that allow us to rise above the basic requirements of Christianity.” Let’s look at some Bible quotes about “Courage” and talk about how it can be manifested in our modern world.
Bible Quotes: Courage in the Bible
“But God doesn’t simply command courage with no reason behind it. In nearly every incident where God says “fear not,” there follows a reason to have courage, and that reason is God Himself, His nature and His perfect plans.” (Courage)
I read a post one time, Financial Hardships & Surprise Pregnancies: Crosses & Chai Tea. I could not get this post off my mind and as I was writing this post. Because of that post, I understood courage in a new light…I understood that I am courageous and so are you!
Let me back up just a bit. One night, years ago when I had a bunch of young children, I was whining to my husband that I should do more for the pro-life movement. I should pray outside abortion mills and march and buy bumper stickers and little feet lapel pins. He asked me when I was going to the grocery store next. Kind of a weird time to ask I thought, but I answered him…I don’t remember what but I’m sure it was in the near future, if not the next day or so.
My husband then went on to tell me when I was at Walmart to smile…smile at our children in the cart, the elderly couple in the produce aisle, the young couple on the ice cream aisle, the stockman and the electronics guy. Pushing a cart full of children around the store, while smiling at them and everyone else, was doing my part to support the pro-life movement at the time…I was living it, not just supporting it.
And now, today, we’re considering “Courage” and I think of heroic saints like Joan of Arc or some of the other women martyrs, especially those with children (St. Margaret Clitherow or Saint Perpetua) and I wonder how my courage would stack up next to theirs.
But when I start thinking about how I’m called to live out my courage compared to theirs, I realize that would be comparing apples to pecans…or lion’s dens with grocery shopping.
Not to take away from their martyrdom at all or to make myself seem all “Martyr-like” but mommas, we take a courageous stand for our faith daily; not in the lion’s den or some torture chamber (although don’t even ask me what I call Walmart) but in this crazy, mixed-up world that butchers babies and snarls at pregnancies.
We endure the looks, sighs, awkward stares, and obnoxious questions, like, “Are trying for more?” (My pat answer became, “Not at the moment, I’m (fill in the blank) buying milk, watching a soccer game, trying to order a pizza…etc”)
We hear phrases and questions such as, “I hope you’re done…Don’t you know what causes that…How many more of them are you going to have…Are you trying to be the Duggar’s…Where do they all sleep…How do you feed them all…How can you afford them all…” Unfortunately, as our children grow, they begin to endure the same questions or some similar, “Are your mom and dad going to have any more kids…Do you like being from a big family…Where do you all sleep…What do you all eat…”
On the other side of the coin, those with small families or no children bear their own cross in the world. We don’t know the secret struggles and heartaches they have endured. Yet the same rude and obnoxious questions are thrown at them, “When will you have a family (like the two of them don’t count)…Why don’t you want children…Have you been checked out…Who has the problem…Your past is catching up to you or beating you…and after a miscarriage–“Well, it just wasn’t God’s will…It’s probably for the best, there may have been something wrong with the baby…”
Being open to life doesn’t guarantee a bunch of little souls around your dinner table. Being open to life does come with it the promise of struggle and hardship.
We stand courageous when we take a stand against the norms of the world; when we are careful about the shows we watch, the music we listen to and the way we dress. The prayers we pray, the liturgical life we try to live, the family time we guard; every “yes” or “no” we utter takes courage.
Back to the definition I began this post with, “…we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus Christ…In nearly every incident where God says “fear not,” there follows a reason to have courage, and that reason is God Himself, His nature and His perfect plans.”
“The only way we’ll ever stand
Is on our knees with lifted hands
Make us courageous
Lord, make us courageous”
I love the Douay Rheims translation of Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of affliction, to give you an end and patience.”
“…and patience.” I believe courage and patience are the loveliest of sisters…fraternal twins maybe don’t you think? They are so alike and go perfectly hand and hand, but each has its own little crosses…and neither one can be gained without the other.
If the Bible tells us “Be not afraid” 365 times, it’s also telling us “Be courageous” 365 times…everyday my friends…everyday!
This post was part of my 31 Days series on Bible quotes.
Here’s your free printable Bible Quotes Courage in the Bible
Bible Quotes Resources
My large print Bible
(This is my go-to Bible. It’s large print and just feels nice in my hands.)
Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament
(I use this Bible when I’m looking for some more information about the text.)
The Catholic Bible Concordance for the Revised Standard Version
(You want to know where a word is in the Bible? This is the book for you!)
The Great Commentary of Cornelius A’ Lapide
(I use this commentary for more information as well.)
A Practical Commentary On Holy Scripture
(I like this commentary because it also has reflections and applications.)
Robin Sellers says
I have a double dose of courage coming my way in the form of a 3 year old and almost 1 year old for 4 days. Pray for me!!! LOL This was a great post and very much needed. I don’t think about being courageous in my day to day life. I certainly don’t like people to say those kind of things about me. I have a hard time accepting compliments. I’m just living life as God presents it to me, nothing special. You have a way of opening my eyes to things I don’t stop to ponder. Thanks, as usual.
Jenny says
Whew Girl! You are going to be busy!! Robin, accept the compliments as an offering to God ♥
Susan C says
A culture of death is so loud and brash. Our culture of life is in the quiet (if grocery shopping can be quiet) and everyday living that we do. You as mamas and me a daughter of an elderly mom. Our daily witness is the shouting from the rooftops or so I’ve been told. Standing up for what is right in the eyes of God may be courageous but it is also freeing. And peace in doing that right is attained. Thank you for your words and support you have given us all today! God bless you and yours!
Jenny says
Thanks for taking the time to share such a thoughtful comment Susan. You encourage me ♥
Michelle says
First, I love Chris’ response. Truthfully, it’s the more difficult of the two. So yes, that’s good advice. Thank him for me since I’ve always felt that I was just a talker and not a walker.
And, I have been loving Casting Crowns’ Just Be Held.
Jenny says
It is harder isn’t? I think because it’s so ordinary. “How did you fight the scourge of abortion today?” “Oh, I took my children grocery shopping.” Yeah, a little too ordinary to seem significant…what an awesome trick of the enemy right!??!
Clare says
Thank you for this…”Courage and confidence” are special words in my congregation…
Jenny says
How so Clare?
Clare says
“Courage and Confidence” was one of the phrases our foundress used to say. So it is “embedded” in my heart and spirit. Consequently “courage” is one of the words that leaps out at me when I read it…I often need it…