5 Big Lessons About Courage In The Bible

Are you feeling fearful in your life? Do you need extra courage to do something you know you need to do? Courage in the Bible is a recurring theme, reminding us that fear is a natural human response, but we are never alone. God is with us, by our side, giving us the courage to face the fears and uncertainties of life.

There’s courage, and then there’s the super-human courage that only comes from an unwavering trust in God. The Bible is full of individuals who displayed this kind of courage. And, as God incarnate, Jesus modeled it to perfection.

Finding Bravery Through Scripture

In Joshua 1:9, God asked Joshua, His chosen leader to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

The rhetorical nature of God’s question really drives the point home. Of course, God knows that it’s hard for us humans to get over our natural inclination to fear. But if we truly believe that God is with us wherever we go, we can follow his command to be strong and courageous. 

What Does the Bible Say About Courage?

Here are four powerful statements that the Bible says about courage. 

  1. You can take heart that God goes with you everywhere, and will never let you down. (Deuteronomy 31:6).
  2. Fear does not come from God, and believers can rest in God’s assurances so that fear will not affect us. Instead, we can live with God’s spirit of power, love and peace (2 Timothy 1:7). 
  3. Courage requires obedience: Sometimes, stepping out in faith means obeying even when it’s difficult. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus follows God’s will even though he is distressed about the task He must accomplish (Matthew 26:36-46).
  4. God strengthens the weak: Even when we feel inadequate, God equips us for what He calls us to do (Isaiah 41:10).

3 Stories of Faith and Courage

We can learn to do this for ourselves by thoughtfully studying the Biblical examples of those who showed bravery through their reliance on God. 

  1. David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17): Before he became king, David was just a young shepherd boy who faced the giant Goliath when no other Israelite would answer his challenge. How did He do it? Not by donning heavy armor as a big, strong warrior, but by letting God use his particular strengths. With unwavering trust in God, he used his slingshot and won the batter for God and His people. The lesson? Even the smallest or seemingly insignificant person can be used by God, and their unique characteristics can make a huge difference.

  2. Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6): During the Jewish people’s Babylonian exile, Daniel remained steadfast in his beliefs despite pressure to conform to Babylonian customs and the life-threatening situations of the lion’s den. The lesson? God protects and vindicates those who are standing firm in God’s strength.

  3. Esther’s Boldness (Esther 4:16): Queen Esther risked her life to save her people, declaring, “If I perish, I perish.” Her courage came from knowing that God had placed her in that position for a purpose, even if she could not see a solution to her position. The lesson? Trust in God’s plan even when things seem hopeless.

Courage in the Bible is not about being fearless—it’s about trusting God despite fear. By looking to Scripture and remembering God’s promises, we can find the strength to stand firm in our faith. No matter what challenges we face, we can be courageous, knowing that God is always with us.

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3 Important Factors in Guiding Young Men

Young men are being seriously blitzed right now. According to the Stanford Review, they are “three times more likely to overdose, four times more likely to commit suicide, and a staggering 14 times more likely to be incarcerated than their female peers.” They’ve been ignored, isolated in social media and inundated with lies about what it means to be a man.

But every generation must find their way, and none of them do it without mentors guiding young men to manhood, helping them find their identity in Christ and experience the security and joy it brings. 

Mentorship in Faith 

No one figured out how to be a true man on their own. Jesus mentored his disciples. First, He did it and they watched. Then, He told them to follow His example while He watched. Finally, they did it with His guiding spirit, and others watched them. Soon, the Way of Jesus spread all over the world. 

Try taking the same approach to mentoring young men. First, you must make sure you are following Jesus’ example and relying on God for everything as best you can. Show them what that means in your daily life. Be real. Tell them about the highs and the lows.

Like any good teacher, you make it real for them. Ask them to pray for someone or invite them to volunteer with you, always listening for God’s instructions on how to best lead them. Then, as their faith grows stronger, encourage them to hear the call that God has put on their life—a specific mission that they can take responsibility for and use their gifts to accomplish it. By doing so, they will become an example to others on guiding young men. 

It will never be a clean three steps and you’re done. They will falter. You will falter. But this continual process of modeling, doing and empowering is Jesus’ way of transforming us to be more like Him. 

Teaching Young Men Biblical Values

As I mentioned before, there are a lot of voices from all sides telling young men a lot of destructive things right now. Even if they are not listening to them directly, these influences seep into the culture and sway young men without them even realizing it. 

That’s why it’s so important that their beliefs are firmly rooted in the Word. You should be encouraging young men to read the Bible every day—and not just to check a box and not so they feel good about being spiritual. These traps are easy to fall into, even as you grow up!

Tell them to really meditate over the Word and let God lead them to what He wants to tell them. At the same time, show them the importance of studying the Word like a serious researcher, using commentary and guides to understand the historical and spiritual context that sets every single word blazing with meaning on guiding young men.

This is the personal aspect of their relationship with God. You can’t do it for them. But you can also be vigilant and speak up when their words or actions do not reflect Biblical values. 

Encouraging Spiritual Growth in Youth 

The most important part of catalyzing spiritual growth in a young person is making sure that spark is set in the first place. Even though I grew up in a Christian household, when I truly decided to live for God did not come until the end of college. You can show them the life-giving benefits of your own decision to do that, but they cannot grow spiritually until they make that decision for themselves. 

Sometimes, there’s a blockage in the way. It could be a selfish, ego desire or it could be a false idea of who God is. If you think it’s the latter, you could invite them to clear away previous conceptions and let God show you who He really is. 

After the spark has caught, you can nurture it by continually encouraging and reminding them to receive from God. It might sound like a passive action, but it’s not. It’s about being intentional and sticking to a daily practice of spending time with God. 

Then, you can sustain this flame of spiritual growth by making sure they have all the support they need to continue. You can set up a weekly time to ask them how their faith journey is going and share your own relatable experiences with them. Hearing from someone who has gone before you is key to overcoming obstacles. But you should also encourage them to find peers who are going through it at the same time to set up a men’s group about guiding young men. This deep friendship is necessary for a life of continual spiritual growth.

 

If you would like to share a game plan for setting up this kind of men’s group to foster these friendships, download the Playbook for Level 5 Friendship and send it to them today.

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