Bible verses about courage

Be strong and of a good courage

Spoken again and again to people facing a hard task.

1. 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.

   Joshua 1:9

   God's charge to Joshua, with the reason attached: the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

2. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

   Joshua 1:6-7

   Courage is tied to a task (dividing the land) and to obedience (turn not to the right hand or to the left).

3. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

   Deuteronomy 31:6

   Moses tells all Israel the LORD will go with them and will not fail them nor forsake them.

4. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

   Deuteronomy 31:8

   Moses says the same to Joshua: the LORD goes before you, so fear not, neither be dismayed.

5. And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

   1 Chronicles 28:20

   David's charge to Solomon about building the temple: be strong and of good courage, and do it.

6. Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:

   2 Chronicles 32:7

   Hezekiah tells Jerusalem not to fear the Assyrian army, because there be more with us than with him.

7. Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

   Ezra 10:4

   Courage to act on something hard and personal: Arise, this matter belongs to you, and we will be with you.

8. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

   2 Samuel 10:12

   Joab before battle: be of good courage, and leave the outcome to the LORD.

Why we need not fear

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 27:1

   If the LORD is my light and the strength of my life, whom shall I fear?

2. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

   Psalm 27:14

   Waiting on the LORD and being of good courage go together; he strengthens the heart.

3. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

   Psalm 31:24

   Courage is offered to all ye that hope in the LORD, not only to the naturally brave.

4. But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

   Isaiah 43:1-2

   God has called you by name; in waters and fire, I will be with thee.

5. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

   Isaiah 41:13

   God pictures himself holding your right hand as he says Fear not; I will help thee.

6. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

   Psalm 56:3-4

   Courage is not the absence of fear: what time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

7. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

   Psalm 118:6

   The LORD is on my side; what can man do unto me?

8. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

   2 Timothy 1:7

   Fear does not come from God; he gives power, love and a sound mind.

9. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

   Ephesians 6:10

   Be strong in the Lord, in the power of his might, not your own.

Courage in Bible stories

1. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

   1 Samuel 17:45

   David faced Goliath's sword, spear and shield in the name of the LORD of hosts.

2. Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

   Esther 4:16

   Esther went to the king against the law after three days of fasting, saying if I perish, I perish.

3. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

   Daniel 3:17-18

   Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego trusted God could deliver them, and refused the idol even if he did not.

4. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

   Daniel 6:10

   Knowing the decree was signed, Daniel prayed three times a day with his windows open, as he did before.

5. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

   Acts 4:13

   The council saw the boldness of Peter and John, ordinary men, and knew they had been with Jesus.

Boldness

The New Testament often speaks of courage as boldness, especially in speaking.

1. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

   Acts 4:29

   Threatened by the authorities, the church did not pray for safety but for all boldness to speak.

2. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

   Acts 4:31

   The answer came: the place was shaken, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

3. The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

   Proverbs 28:1

   The wicked run when no one chases them, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

4. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

   Hebrews 13:6

   We may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

5. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

   Hebrews 4:16

   Boldness before God, too: come boldly unto the throne of grace for help in time of need.

6. According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

   Philippians 1:20

   Writing from prison, Paul hopes for all boldness, whether by life, or by death.

7. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

   1 Corinthians 16:13

   Watch, stand fast, quit you like men (act like men), be strong.

Be of good cheer

1. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

   Matthew 14:27

   Walking on the sea to his frightened disciples, Jesus said, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

2. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

   John 16:33

   Jesus is honest that his followers will have tribulation, and gives the reason for courage: I have overcome the world.

3. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

   Acts 23:11

   After a violent day before the council, the Lord stood by Paul and told him he would yet testify in Rome.

4. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

   Acts 28:15

   Paul took courage when believers walked out to meet him on the road to Rome; friends give courage.