Courage: Bravery and Confidence Arising from Trust in God
Courage, in the kingdom of God, is not mere human boldness or personality strength. It is a supernatural confidence that flows from knowing who God is, what He has said, and how He stands with His people. True biblical courage is not the absence of fear, but the choice to trust and obey God in the face of fear, opposition, or uncertainty—empowered by the Holy Spirit.
1. The Biblical Definition of Courage
Hebrew and Greek Roots
In Scripture, several key words illuminate the nature of courage:
Hebrew: “chazaq” (חָזַק) – to be strong, firm, courageous, to strengthen, to prevail (e.g., “Be strong and of good courage” – Deuteronomy 31:6).
Hebrew: “amats” (אָמַץ) – to be stout, bold, alert, brave, to harden oneself in strength (Joshua 1:6–7).
Greek: “tharseō” (θαρσέω) – to be of good courage, to be confident, to take heart (used by Jesus: “Be of good cheer [take courage]; it is I; be not afraid” – Matthew 14:27).
Greek: “parrēsia” (παρρησία) – boldness, freedom of speech, fearless confidence, especially in testimony and prayer (Acts 4:13, Hebrews 4:16).
From these terms, we can define biblical courage as:
A Spirit-empowered strength and bold confidence to obey God and stand on His Word, regardless of danger, opposition, or feelings, grounded in trust in His character and presence.
Courage in Scripture is never presented as self-generated heroism. It is always connected to:
Who God is (His faithfulness, power, and covenant).
What God has said (His promises and commands).
God’s presence with His people (“I am with you”).
2. Old Testament Foundation
The Old Testament is rich with examples and commands concerning courage. It is not merely a personality trait but a covenant expectation.
a) The Law and Moses
When Israel was about to enter the Promised Land, God repeatedly commanded courage:
Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Notice the basis of courage:
Not Israel’s military strength.
Not their righteousness.
But God’s presence and faithfulness.
Moses then speaks to Joshua personally:
Deuteronomy 31:7 – “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land…”
Courage is tied to calling: Joshua needed courage to fulfill his God-given assignment.
b) Joshua and the Conquest
In Joshua 1, God Himself speaks directly to Joshua three times:
Joshua 1:6 – “Be strong and of good courage…”
Joshua 1:7 – “Only be strong and very courageous…”
Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed…”
The foundation is clear:
“For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Courage is commanded because God’s presence is guaranteed. Fear is disobedience when God has spoken and promised His presence.
c) David and the Psalms
David, a man of war and worship, models courage rooted in intimacy with God:
Psalm 27:1 – “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?”
Psalm 31:24 – “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”
Here we see:
Courage is connected to hope in the LORD.
As we choose courage, God strengthens our heart.
David faced lions, bears, Goliath, and Saul—not because he was naturally fearless, but because he knew his covenant God (1 Samuel 17:36–37).
d) The Prophets and Remnant Courage
The prophets often called God’s people to courage in times of crisis:
Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you…”
Haggai 2:4 – “Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel… be strong, Joshua… be strong, all you people of the land… and work; for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts.”
Again, the pattern:
Command: Be strong, be courageous.
Reason: “For I am with you.”
Old Testament courage is covenantal: the people of God are expected to act boldly because God Himself stands with them.
3. The Fulfillment in Christ
In Jesus Christ, courage is not only commanded; it is perfectly embodied and imparted.
a) Jesus’ Personal Courage
Jesus walked in unshakable courage because He lived in perfect union with the Father:
He faced Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11).
He confronted religious hypocrisy (Matthew 23).
He set His face toward the cross: “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).
His courage was rooted in:
His identity as the beloved Son (Matthew 3:17).
His obedience to the Father’s will (John 4:34).
His confidence in the Father’s presence (John 8:29).
b) Jesus’ Words of Courage
Jesus repeatedly spoke courage into His disciples:
John 16:33 – “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer [take courage], I have overcome the world.”
Matthew 14:27 – “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
The Greek tharseō (“take courage”) is not a suggestion; it is a command empowered by His presence: “It is I” (literally, “I AM”).
c) The Cross and Resurrection as the Ground of Courage
Our courage today is anchored in what Christ has accomplished:
He defeated Satan (Colossians 2:15).
He destroyed the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14–15).
He secured our justification (Romans 8:1, 33–34).
Because of the cross and resurrection, Paul can say:
Romans 8:31 – “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:37 – “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Christ’s victory removes the ultimate basis of fear and becomes the unshakable foundation of Christian courage.
4. The Power for Today: Courage by the Holy Spirit
This is where continuationist theology becomes vital. Courage is not only a doctrine; it is a present experience empowered by the Holy Spirit.
a) The Spirit of Power, Not Fear
2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Fear is not neutral; it is often a spiritual atmosphere the enemy uses to paralyze believers. But God has given us:
A Spirit of power – dunamis, miracle-working power.
A Spirit of love – agapē, self-giving love that drives out fear (1 John 4:18).
A Spirit of a sound mind – disciplined, sober thinking, not panic or torment.
This is the Holy Spirit Himself dwelling in us. Courage, then, is not self-effort; it is yielding to the Spirit of power within.
b) The Boldness of the Early Church
After Pentecost, the disciples were transformed from fearful followers to bold witnesses:
Before: Peter denied Jesus out of fear (Luke 22:54–62).
After: Peter preached fearlessly to thousands (Acts 2:14–36).
The key?
Acts 4:31 – “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness [parrēsia].”
Notice:
They were already baptized in the Spirit in Acts 2.
Yet they experienced fresh fillings that produced ongoing boldness.
Boldness is a fruit of being filled with the Spirit.
c) Courage and Spiritual Gifts
Courage is deeply connected to the operation of spiritual gifts:
To prophesy, you must risk speaking what God gives (1 Corinthians 14:1, 3).
To heal the sick, you must lay hands in faith, expecting God to move (Mark 16:17–18).
To cast out demons, you must confront darkness in the authority of Jesus’ name (Luke 10:19).
This requires courage—but the same Spirit who gives the gifts also gives the boldness to use them.
Acts 4:29–30 – “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal…”
They did not pray for safety; they prayed for boldness and miraculous power. This is the pattern for the Spirit-filled church today.
d) Courage in Spiritual Warfare
We are in a real conflict:
Ephesians 6:12 – “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers…”
Courage is essential to stand:
Ephesians 6:10–11 – “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God…”
“Be strong” is not a suggestion; it is a command. But the strength is “in the Lord”, not in ourselves. As we put on the armor—truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word, and prayer—we are equipped to stand with courage against every demonic scheme.
e) Expecting God to Move
Courage is sustained by expectation—faith that God will act:
Hebrews 11:6 – “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
When you expect God to:
Confirm His Word with signs following (Mark 16:20).
Back up your witness with His presence (Matthew 28:20).
Answer prayer (John 14:13–14).
…you are freed from paralyzing fear of failure. Your confidence shifts from your performance to His faithfulness.
5. Practical Application: Walking in Courage
Here are concrete steps to cultivate and walk in Spirit-empowered courage.
1. Anchor Your Courage in God’s Word
Courage grows where the Word is believed.
Meditate on Scriptures about God’s presence and faithfulness (Joshua 1:8).
Speak the Word aloud when fear attacks (Psalm 56:3–4).
Example practice:
Take Psalm 27:1 and declare it daily: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
2. Receive and Maintain a Fresh Filling of the Holy Spirit
Courage is not sustained by willpower but by continual infilling.
Ask Jesus to fill you afresh with the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13).
Pray in the Spirit (in tongues) regularly to build yourself up (Jude 20; 1 Corinthians 14:4).
Make it a lifestyle:
Before stepping into a challenging situation (witnessing, ministry, confrontation), pause and invite the Holy Spirit to fill and empower you.
3. Obey in Small Steps of Faith
Courage increases as you act on God’s Word.
Start with simple obedience: share a testimony, offer to pray for someone, speak an encouraging prophetic word.
As you see God move, your confidence in Him grows.
Remember:
The disciples learned courage by doing what Jesus commanded (Luke 10:1–9).
4. Confront Fear as an Enemy, Not a Master
Do not accept fear as your identity.
Recognize fear as a spirit that does not come from God (2 Timothy 1:7).
Verbally renounce agreement with fear in Jesus’ name.
Declare your agreement with God’s Word instead.
You can pray:
“In the name of Jesus, I reject and renounce the spirit of fear. I receive the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. I choose to trust God’s Word over my feelings.”
5. Stay in Fellowship with Courageous Believers
Courage is contagious; so is fear.
Surround yourself with believers who walk in faith, boldness, and the gifts of the Spirit (Hebrews 10:24–25).
Share testimonies of God’s faithfulness—this builds corporate courage (Revelation 12:11).
When the early church faced threats, they gathered, prayed, and were filled with boldness together (Acts 4:23–31). Do the same.
6. Key Scriptures on Courage (with Brief Commentary)
Joshua 1:9 –
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Courage is a command, not an option, because God’s presence is a certainty. Our geography (“wherever you go”) is covered by His presence.
Deuteronomy 31:6 –
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you.”
Courage is relational: it flows from knowing who goes with you, not who stands against you.
Psalm 27:1 –
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
David’s courage is rooted in revelation: the Lord as light (guidance), salvation (deliverance), and strength (inner fortitude).
John 16:33 –
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer [take courage], I have overcome the world.”
Jesus does not promise a trouble-free life, but He commands courage based on His completed victory over the world system.
Acts 4:31 –
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
Spirit-filling produces parrēsia—fearless confidence in speaking God’s Word. This is a model for the Spirit-filled church today.
2 Timothy 1:7 –
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Fear is exposed as not from God. The Holy Spirit brings power (for miracles), love (to face rejection), and a sound mind (to resist intimidation).
Hebrews 13:5–6 –
“‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”
God’s promise (“I will never leave you”) produces our confession (“I will not fear”). Courage is sustained by speaking in agreement with God’s promise.
Final Exhortation
Courage is not reserved for a few heroic believers; it is the inheritance of every child of God who walks in the Spirit. The same Spirit who empowered Joshua, David, the prophets, the apostles, and Jesus Himself now dwells in you.
You do not face this world, its darkness, or your calling alone. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. As you anchor yourself in His Word, receive His Spirit’s power, and step out in obedient faith, you will find that courage is not something you strain to produce—it is something that flows from the living God within you.
“Be strong and of good courage… for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).