What did Jesus say about courage?

Jesus said, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world' (John 16:33). In the storm He told His disciples, 'Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid' (Matthew 14:27). His victory is the ground of our courage.

What is a good Bible verse for courage in hard times?

Joshua 1:9 and Deuteronomy 31:6 ('Be strong and of a good courage, fear not... for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee') are anchors. Isaiah 41:10 adds, 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee... I will strengthen thee.'

How do I find courage when I am afraid?

Fix your eyes on God's nearness, not the threat. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, 'God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,' and Psalm 27:1 asks, 'The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?'

Where in the Bible does it say be strong and courageous?

Most famously in Joshua 1:6-9, where God commands Joshua three times to 'be strong and of a good courage' as he leads Israel into the promised land. Deuteronomy 31:6 and 1 Corinthians 16:13 ('quit you like men, be strong') echo the same call.

How is courage connected to faith in God?

Biblical courage grows from trusting who God is. Psalm 27:14 ties them together: 'Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.' We are brave not because the danger is small, but because our God is great and He is with us.

What Psalm gives courage?

Psalm 27 is the great courage psalm: 'The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?' (27:1) and 'be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart' (27:14). Psalm 31:24 adds, 'Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.'

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Bible verses

Bible Verses About Courage

From cover to cover the Bible says the same thing to the fearful: be strong and of a good courage, for God Himself goes with you. Joshua 1:9, Psalm 27:1 and Deuteronomy 31:6 are among the clearest verses about courage. Christian courage is not the absence of fear but confidence in God's presence, and Jesus gives the final word: 'be of good cheer; I have overcome the world' (John 16:33).

Bible verses about courage

“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 · King James Version (public domain)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

Psalm 27:1 · King James Version (public domain)

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not... for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 · King James Version (public domain)

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

1 Corinthians 16:13 · King James Version (public domain)

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

Psalms 31:24 · King James Version (public domain)

We are told to take courage because God Himself strengthens the heart that hopes in Him.

“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 · King James Version (public domain)

The Lord goes before you and never leaves you, so you can face what is ahead without fear or dismay.

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

Isaiah 41:13 · King James Version (public domain)

God takes hold of your right hand and says, Fear not, I will help you, steadying your courage with His grip.

“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 · King James Version (public domain)

Jesus says take courage, for He has overcome the world, giving us peace even in the middle of trouble.

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

Psalms 118:6 · King James Version (public domain)

With the Lord on your side you can face people and pressures without being ruled by fear.

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:31 · King James Version (public domain)

If God is for us, no opposition finally stands against us, which is ground for real and lasting courage.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Philippians 4:13 · King James Version (public domain)

You can face and do all things through Christ, who supplies the strength you do not have on your own.

“For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.”

Mark 6:50 · King James Version (public domain)

In the storm Jesus tells His frightened disciples, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid, and He says the same to us.

“And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

2 Chronicles 20:15 · King James Version (public domain)

When the battle feels too big, God reminds us that the fight is not ours but His.

How these verses point to Christ

These verses are not slogans to prop yourself up. Every true word the Bible speaks about courage finds its yes in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). He is where courage, rightly understood, was always leading; come to Him and receive what no verse alone can give.

You do not have to carry this alone

On The Living Bread you can read these passages in full, ask Simon what they mean, hear how Christ has met others in the same place, and pray them with a community that will pray for you by name. You are welcome exactly as you are.

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Questions people ask about courage

What does the Bible say about courage?: Joshua 1:9 is the cornerstone: '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.' Courage in Scripture rests on God's presence, not on our own strength.
What did Jesus say about courage?: Jesus said, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world' (John 16:33). In the storm He told His disciples, 'Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid' (Matthew 14:27). His victory is the ground of our courage.
What is a good Bible verse for courage in hard times?: Joshua 1:9 and Deuteronomy 31:6 ('Be strong and of a good courage, fear not... for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee') are anchors. Isaiah 41:10 adds, 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee... I will strengthen thee.'
How do I find courage when I am afraid?: Fix your eyes on God's nearness, not the threat. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, 'God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,' and Psalm 27:1 asks, 'The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?'
Where in the Bible does it say be strong and courageous?: Most famously in Joshua 1:6-9, where God commands Joshua three times to 'be strong and of a good courage' as he leads Israel into the promised land. Deuteronomy 31:6 and 1 Corinthians 16:13 ('quit you like men, be strong') echo the same call.
How is courage connected to faith in God?: Biblical courage grows from trusting who God is. Psalm 27:14 ties them together: 'Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.' We are brave not because the danger is small, but because our God is great and He is with us.
What Psalm gives courage?: Psalm 27 is the great courage psalm: 'The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?' (27:1) and 'be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart' (27:14). Psalm 31:24 adds, 'Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.'

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