The biblical command to be strong and courageous is given to people who are afraid. God does not command courage to people who feel no fear — He commands it to people who feel it acutely but are called to act anyway. Joshua was genuinely terrified of what he was walking into. That is why God told him to be strong and courageous four times in the first chapter of the book that bears his name.
Biblical courage is not bravado. It is not the absence of fear or the performance of fearlessness. It is a decision — made while afraid — to act on what is true rather than on what is feared. It is Peter stepping out of the boat. It is the disciples eventually walking into arenas. It is Paul planting churches after being beaten in the previous city.
What makes this courage possible is not exceptional inner strength. It is the consistently stated foundation of biblical courage: God's presence. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous — for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9). The courage is commanded. The basis for the courage is the presence.
These verses are for the person who needs to be courageous right now but does not feel courageous. They are for the hard conversation you need to have, the step you need to take, the thing you have been avoiding. The presence of God is the ground of all biblical courage.
Bible Verses: What Scripture Says
Each verse below includes the exact KJV text, a plain-language explanation, and a specific daily application.
Verse 1
"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and courageous; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
— Joshua 1:9
The Command and Its Foundation
God begins with Have I not commanded this — reminding Joshua that this is not a suggestion but a directive. Then He gives the command and its four elements. And then the foundation: The LORD your God is with you wherever you go. The courage is grounded in the companion.
Where do you need to be courageous today? Say: The LORD my God is with me wherever I go. I will be strong and courageous in this.
Verse 2
"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
Strong and Courageous Because He Goes Before
He will not fail thee nor forsake thee — the courage is grounded in God's faithfulness, not yours. You do not have to be brave enough to walk into what is ahead, because God has already gone into it.
For the thing that needs courage today: God has already gone into this. He will not fail me or forsake me. I follow His lead.
Verse 3
"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
The Logic of Fearlessness
David makes a logical argument: if God is your light, your salvation, and your strength, then who or what can produce valid fear? The threat is not minimised; the One standing with him makes the threat small by comparison.
Name your specific fear. Then ask David's question genuinely: Is this larger than the God who is my light and my salvation?
Verse 4
"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
Courage Is Your Inheritance
The spirit of fear — the paralyzing, shrinking disposition — did not come from God. What God gave is its exact opposite: power, love, sound mind. Courage is not something you manufacture; it is something you inherit.
Claim your inheritance today: I have been given power, love, and a sound mind. I step forward in what God has given me.
Verse 5
"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."
— Proverbs 28:1
The Righteous Are Bold As a Lion
Boldness — lion-like boldness — is described as the natural posture of the righteous. Not because of their own character but because of their standing with God. Walking in righteousness produces a spiritual boldness that flows from right relationship.
In the area where you need courage today: walk righteously toward it. The boldness is a fruit of right relationship, not a performance.
Practical Application: Living This Out Daily
Faith becomes real when it touches the ordinary moments of your day. Here is how to carry these verses with you.
One courageous thing
Identify one specific thing requiring courage that you have been avoiding. Name it. Then take one step toward it today — not the whole thing, just the first step. Courage compounds.
Read Joshua 1
The entire first chapter is God's briefing on courage. Read it as if God is speaking it to you about your specific situation. He repeats be strong and courageous four times — He knew Joshua would need to hear it more than once.
Tell someone what you will do
Declared intentions have more follow-through than private ones. Tell one person the courageous thing you are going to do. The accountability of witness makes follow-through more likely.
Remember past courage
You have been courageous before — probably more than you remember. Name three specific times you did something despite fear. Let those memories become evidence that you can do it again.
Affirmations to Speak Over Yourself
Words are not passive. Speaking these affirmations aloud — even once — can shift the atmosphere of a day.
- The LORD my God is with me wherever I go. I will be strong and courageous.
- God has already gone into what is ahead of me. He will not fail me or forsake me.
- I have been given power, love, and a sound mind. I step forward in that inheritance.
- The threat is real — but it is not larger than the God who is my light and salvation.
- I am bold as a lion because I walk with the Lion of Judah.
A Guided Prayer
You do not need perfect words. Bring an honest heart. This prayer is a starting place — make it your own.
✦ Pray This Today
Lord, I need courage for something specific right now.
I am afraid of it. I am not going to pretend I am not.
But Your Word says You have not given me a spirit of fear — You have given me power, love, and a sound mind. And it says the LORD my God is with me wherever I go. Including into this.
Give me the courage I do not currently feel. Not because I am inherently brave, but because You are with me — and that is the only foundation biblical courage has ever needed.
I will be strong and courageous. You commanded it. You promised Your presence. I step forward.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
I am afraid of it. I am not going to pretend I am not.
But Your Word says You have not given me a spirit of fear — You have given me power, love, and a sound mind. And it says the LORD my God is with me wherever I go. Including into this.
Give me the courage I do not currently feel. Not because I am inherently brave, but because You are with me — and that is the only foundation biblical courage has ever needed.
I will be strong and courageous. You commanded it. You promised Your presence. I step forward.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Reflection: Pause and Journal
The most transformative part of any devotional is the moment you respond to what you've read.
What specific thing requires courage from you right now — and what would it mean to ground that courage in God's presence rather than in your own feelings of readiness?
Write freely. This is saved privately on your device — no account required.