Finding Your Brave Again

Ever had one of those days (or months) when courage seems to pack its bags and skip town?

Yeah. Me too.

Sometimes we wake up and just don’t feel brave. We feel small, overwhelmed, uncertain. And that’s okay. Because courage isn’t a feeling anyway. It’s a choice. A decision to keep going even when your knees are knocking and your heart is unsure.

The world tells us that courage looks like bold speeches or dramatic battles. But more often, it looks like showing up. Saying yes. Trying again. Holding on. Courage is the quiet “I will” when everything in you whispers “I can’t.”

Scripture reminds us of this over and over. From Joshua to Paul to Jesus Himself, we’re called not to feel courageous, but to be strong and courageous—because God is with us (Joshua 1:9).

So what do you do when you’ve misplaced your courage? When the tank’s empty and the fear feels bigger than the promise?

Here are some practical, faith-filled ways to find your brave again:

1. Remember Who’s With You

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

Fear thrives in isolation. But courage is born in presence—not your own strength, but God’s. He doesn’t say, “Be brave because you’ve got this.” He says, “Be brave because I’ve got this.”

When we reconnect with the truth that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, fear loses some of its grip. We’re not walking alone. We never were. When your courage starts to fade, start with this: God is with me. Say it out loud if you need to.

2. Reflect on Past Wins

Take a minute to look back. I mean really look back. Where has God shown up in your story before? What hard things have you come through? What prayers has He answered? How has He made you stronger than you thought you could be?

Courage grows when we remind ourselves that the same God who parted the sea and shut the lion’s mouths is the God who lives in us.

Make a list. Write it on a sticky note. Call it your “Bravery File.” Let it remind you of the courage you’ve already shown and the faithfulness you’ve already experienced.

3. Do the Next Right Thing

Courage doesn’t always mean climbing a mountain. Sometimes it just means taking the next step. Sending the email. Making the call. Saying the prayer. Choosing to believe again.

You don’t need the full blueprint to move forward. You just need the next right thing. That one obedient step—even a small one—builds momentum. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s moving forward despite it.

4. Borrow Someone Else’s Faith

When your courage feels thin, lean on someone whose faith is thick. That’s part of the beauty of Christian community—we carry each other. There are days when your voice might be too shaky to declare God’s promises over your life, but a friend can do it for you.

Phone a friend. Text your prayer group. Listen to a sermon. Borrow hope. And when your courage comes back? Be that voice for someone else.

5. Speak Truth to Your Fear

Fear has a loud mouth. It exaggerates. It lies. It reminds you of every failure and forgets every victory.

But we have something more powerful than fear’s voice—we have God’s Word. Speak it. Declare it. Shout it if you have to.

“God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” – Psalm 27:1 (ESV)

Fear shrinks when truth speaks up.

6. Ask God for It

Seems obvious, right? But sometimes we forget to just ask. God isn’t annoyed by your need for courage. He delights in your dependence. When we admit our fear and ask for boldness, we’re following in the footsteps of the early Church.

“Now, Lord… enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” – Acts 4:29 (NIV)

So ask. Every day if you need to. Ask for the courage to trust, to speak, to show up, to stand firm, to love big.

7. Let Go of the Outcome

This one’s tough. A lot of our fear is tied up in needing control. What if I fail? What if they say no? What if it doesn’t work?

But here’s the freeing truth: you’re not responsible for the outcome. Just the obedience.

Courage means saying yes even when you can’t guarantee the results. It’s surrendering the outcome to God and doing what He’s asked you to do anyway.

Final Thoughts

If you’re reading this and your courage feels lost, let me remind you: it’s not gone forever. It’s just taking a breather.

You don’t have to be fearless to be faithful. You just have to keep going, step by step, leaning into the One who never loses courage.

So take heart. Say a prayer. Call a friend. Crack open your Bible. And try again.

You were made for bold things, because you were made by a bold God.