51 Bible Verses about Courage - God's Call to Valor
Introduction
In a world that often seems filled with uncertainty and fear, one constant remains: the reassuring and empowering message of the Bible, exhorting us to be strong and courageous. This collection of verses serves as a reminder of God's constant presence, His unfailing love, and His promise of divine strength and courage.
One powerful example that encapsulates this theme is the story of David, a young shepherd who courageously faced the fearsome giant, Goliath. Armed with nothing but a sling and his unwavering faith in God, David demonstrated immense courage, showing us that with faith, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges.
This collection of verses explores the concept of courage as it's depicted in various contexts within the Bible. From the calls for strength and courage in Deuteronomy and Joshua to the reassuring words of peace and fearlessness in Isaiah and John, we delve into the multifaceted nature of courage in the scriptures. As we journey through these verses, we are reminded that the source of our courage lies in God, who is always with us, strengthening and comforting us.
Be Strong and Courageous
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
2 Chronicles 15:7
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
1 Chronicles 28:20
Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.”
2 Chronicles 32:7
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.
Psalm 31:24
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Do Not Fear
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Revelation 1:17
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last."
Courage in the Face of Adversity
Exodus 14:13
And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
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?
Psalm 56:3-4
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Jeremiah 42:11
Fear not because of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Fear not him, declares the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand.
Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Matthew 10:22
And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Acts 4:13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
The Confidence of a Fearless Heart
Psalm 112:7
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Psalm 112:7
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Psalm 31:24
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Galatians 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Philippians 1:28
And not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
Encouragement for the Faint-Hearted
Deuteronomy 31:8
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Courageous Leaders in the Bible
Exodus 14:13 (Moses)
And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
Joshua 1:6 (Joshua)
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
1 Samuel 17:45 (David)
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
1 Kings 18:21 (Elijah)
And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”
2 Chronicles 15:7 (Azariah)
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
Daniel 6:10 (Daniel)
When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Acts 4:19-20 (Peter and John)
But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 27:25 (Paul)
So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.
Conclusion
From God's repeated encouragements for strength and courage, to the promise of His everlasting peace and comfort, His guidance and assistance in all life's trials, and the command to stand firm and fearless, the Bible is filled with verses that provide a foundation of courage for believers. In all these scriptures, one theme resounds - we are not alone. God is with us, strengthening and upholding us, helping us to navigate through life's challenges with courage and confidence.
A Prayer for Courage
Dear Lord, we thank You for Your reassuring words of courage and strength in the Bible. We pray that these verses would sink deep into our hearts and spur us on to live bravely and confidently in You. Help us, Lord, to stand firm in the face of trials, knowing that You are with us, comforting us, guiding us, and providing for us. May we always trust in Your unfailing love and grace. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
