What Does Courage Look Like in the Life of a Christian?
When we hear the word courage, our minds often go straight to the battlefield—soldiers charging ahead under fire—or maybe to the big screen, where someone stands tall against a world of injustice, fists clenched and eyes blazing. Those are dramatic pictures, for sure. But for the everyday Christian? Courage may look a whole lot quieter... but no less powerful.
Truth is, courage in the life of a believer doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it whispers. It holds steady. It gets back up. And perhaps most importantly, it obeys.
Not a Personality Trait, But a Spiritual Gift
Let’s start here: courage isn’t something you either have or you don’t. It's not a personality trait or a byproduct of confidence. In fact, some of the most courageous people I’ve ever met were shaking in their shoes when they did what God asked them to do.
Courage, at its core, is a virtue—but not one we muster up through sheer grit. It’s a gift from God. He supplies it at the exact moment we need it, not a second before. That’s both humbling and reassuring, isn’t it? We don’t have to go around stockpiling bravery like canned goods before a storm. We just have to trust that when the time comes, God will give us what we need to take the next step.
Think of Joshua. God didn’t tell him to go find courage. He told him to be strong and courageous—because He was going with him. The same goes for us.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
— Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Courage isn’t a feeling. It's obedience that doesn’t give in to fear.
What Courage Actually Looks Like
So what does courage really look like in our everyday lives? Sometimes it's big and bold. But more often, it's surprisingly ordinary. It looks like:
Speaking truth gently when you’d rather stay silent.
Forgiving someone who isn’t sorry.
Saying “yes” to a new calling that feels too big for you.
Saying “no” when everyone else says “yes.”
Showing up to church with a broken heart and worshiping anyway.
Trusting God's goodness when your life feels like it's falling apart.
In other words, courage often shows up when no one else sees it. And that’s okay—God does.
The Courage to Stay
Here’s one practical, less-glamorous-but-oh-so-real way courage gets manifested: the courage to stay.
Staying doesn’t sound flashy. But sometimes it’s the most courageous thing a person can do.
Staying in a relationship that’s hard, while trusting God to heal hearts.
Staying committed to a church family that isn’t perfect (because, spoiler: none of them are).
Staying in the Word even when you’re not “feeling it.”
Staying hopeful when everything in you wants to quit.
The world teaches us that bravery is always about leaving—cutting ties, walking away, starting over. And sometimes, yes, God does call us to move on. But other times, true courage is staying where God has planted you, trusting that He is still at work even when things look barren.
Staying is an act of faith. And faith-fueled courage has eternal impact.
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
— 1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV)
Not Just for “Strong” Christians
I think it’s worth saying this out loud: you don’t have to feel strong to be courageous. You can be weary. Unsure. Tear-stained. And still courageous. Because courage isn’t the absence of weakness—it’s choosing to trust God in your weakness.
Paul wrote, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10) That’s the Christian paradox, isn’t it? We walk into hard things not because we are brave, but because He is faithful.
So if you’ve been waiting around for courage to feel like something—like a lightning bolt or a surge of adrenaline—you might be missing it. It’s often much quieter than that. A divine nudge. A still, small voice. A foot that steps forward even when your heart's pounding.
How to Cultivate Courage
If courage is a gift of God, how do we open ourselves to receive it? Here are a few thoughts:
Stay close to the Giver. Prayer, Scripture, and community help ground us in His presence, where courage is born.
Stop comparing your courage. Your step of obedience may look different than someone else’s. That’s okay.
Celebrate the small wins. Every time you choose faith over fear, you're building spiritual muscle.
Name your fears. When you bring them into the light, they lose some of their power.
Remember past faithfulness. Look back at what God has brought you through. He hasn't changed.
Brothers and sisters, courage is not for the chosen few—it’s for you. And it won’t always come with fanfare. Sometimes it’s just a quiet, trembling step forward, trusting that God’s hand is holding yours.
So the next time fear whispers “You can’t,” let faith answer back, “God already did.”
You’re braver than you think—not because of who you are, but because of who walks beside you.
And that’s more than enough.
