Bible verses about courage

Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD.

The last line of a psalm of David that begins in distress and ends here, addressed to everyone who hopes in the LORD. The courage is for the waiting, not only the fighting.

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Moses to Israel on the shore of the sea, with the Egyptian army behind them and the water ahead. Courage here is not doing something; it is standing still while God does.

So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.

Written to believers who had already lost property and friends for their faith. Confidence is something you can throw away, the writer says, so hold it, because it is worth something.

Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!

The closing line of David's psalm of light and stronghold, and it says wait twice. Courage in the psalms is often patience with a spine.

But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

The disciples in a boat at night, in a storm, seeing a figure on the water. Jesus gives the reason for courage in three words: It is I.

Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.

Paul's closing charge to a divided church, four short commands in a row. It reads like a watch order, and it is meant to be said to yourself.

On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.

David, looking back at a prayer that was answered. The answer he names is not a changed situation but a bolder soul, which is often how God answers.

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

A proverb about conscience. The bold lion is the person with nothing to hide; the courage comes from being in the right, not from being strong.

And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness

The first church's prayer after Peter and John were threatened and released. They do not ask for the threats to stop; they ask for boldness to keep speaking.

What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Paul's summary question after eight chapters on what God has done. It is rhetorical, and worth answering aloud anyway: no one who matters.

Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust.

David, who had lived through real sieges and real wars. The courage is not that the army is imaginary but that his trust holds while it is camped outside.

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Peter and John before the same council that had condemned Jesus, weeks later. Their courage was the noticeable thing, and the council traced it to the right source.

If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.

Three young men before a king and a furnace. The bravest words in the Bible may be but even if He does not: a courage that does not depend on the outcome.