6 Verses for When You Need to Be Brave

Last week, I wrote about courage—taking that faith-filled step to keep moving forward, despite everything that tries to work against us.

I’ve been thinking a lot about courage and bravery. What comes easy for some might take a great amount of bravery for another, and what took a deep courage-filled breath last year may not be as difficult this year.

After reading multiple definitions, I came up with one of my own.

To act bravely is to meet or face something with courage; to act with courage is to make the choice to proceed with confidence, despite fear, adversity, intimidation, or feeling uncomfortable or judged.

Being brave doesn’t mean the threat is gone, it means we don’t let it stop us. {Tweet this}

Having courage doesn’t mean the next step will be easy, it means we move forward anyway.

Following Jesus means we can draw from His unending strength and courage, and not try to rely on the amount of courage we can muster up ourselves.

When God told Joshua to be strong and courageous as he led the Israelites, He planned for Joshua to rely on Him. If Joshua had decided that he was brave enough without God, the Israelites never would have made it to the Promised Land.

Joshua was brave because He trusted God.

Just like Joshua, God makes us brave not because of who we are, but because of who He is.
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6 Scripture Verses for When You Need to Be Brave

Joshua 1:9 NIV

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.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

Psalm 27:13-14 NLT

Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Psalm 31:24 VOICE

Be strong, and live courageously, all of you who set your hope in the Eternal!

Daniel 10:18-19 MEV

Then again, the one having the appearance of a man came and touched me, and he strengthened me. He said, “O man, greatly beloved, do not fear. Peace be unto you. Be strong and courageous!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

2 Chronicles 15:7 NLT

But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.

In Christ,

Laura

[Photo credit: K.Rath 2017]

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Called to Be Courageous

A few weeks ago, I did something I’d been putting off for quite a while. I added a speaker page to my blog. I know, for some, this might not be a big deal, but for me, it was. Finally doing this meant moving forward through the fear, and finding courage to put myself out there where others could see and judge.

As I thought about courageous people in the Bible, I reread the verses calling Joshua to be courageous in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. (Joshua 1) But, that’s not who I kept thinking about. Instead, I kept thinking about a woman who had the courage to go to Jesus.

In the Book of Mark, chapter 5, Jesus is on His way to visit a little girl who is dying. As He walked with the girl’s father, the disciples, and the crowd of people following Him, He suddenly stopped to talk to one woman. A courageous woman whose faith was stronger than her fear.

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Mark 5:25-28

This woman, who would have been viewed as ceremonially unclean for so many years, made the choice to go to Jesus, despite her fear and uncertainty. She took a faith-filled risk, even though she would be seen and judged. {Tweet this}

And her courage was rewarded.

Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”

Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” Mark 5:29-30, 33-34

By faith, she had the courage to fight through the crowd and touch Jesus’ robe, and then, confess to Him what she had done.

That’s courage, friends. Raw, honest and inspiring, faith-filled courage.

Where do you need to find courage today? {Tweet this}

Maybe it’s the courage to keep trying when you feel like giving up.

The courage to step out in faith despite the fear holding you back.

The courage to keep hoping when you’re knee-deep in disappointment.

Perhaps it’s the courage we all need— the courage to reach out and touch Jesus’ robe because our faith is stronger than our fear.

Courage that says we can walk through anything because our trust and confidence is in the One who will never leave us.

“Daughter, your faith has made you well.”

May we all be courageous women who walk in faith, regardless of all that tries to work against us.

In Christ,

Laura

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Less of Me

A few days ago, I woke up with seven words on my mind...More of You Lord, less of me.

I knew it had to do with the way I'd felt when I went to bed the night before. Frustrated with emotions that I'd buried months ago, and were now coming back to the surface. Feelings I could either bury again, or would have to deal with now.

Neither choice looked appealing, but those words kept running through my mind like a ticker tape reminder...More of You Lord, less of me.

That reminder became my prayer over and over throughout the day because I know that when I don't have it in me to deal with something, God does. {Tweet this}

When I struggle to forgive...

More of You Lord, less of me.

When I don't understand and don't know which way to go...

More of You Lord, less of me.

When I can't change my circumstances or someone else's actions...

More of You Lord, less of me.

When I feel lost and lonely...

More of You Lord, less of me.

When my emotions are going to overtake me...

More of You Lord, less of me.

So often I forget this, trying to deal with things on my own. But the truth is, every day, in every situation, I need more of Him and less of me. {Tweet this}

In Christ,

Laura

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Linking up with: Spiritual Sundays, Moments of Hope, #glimpsesofHisbeauty, #DreamTogether, #RaRaLinkup, #TellHisStory, From Messes to Messages, #RechargeWednesday, Coffee for Your Heart, #writerWednesday, #ChasingCommunity, #HeartEncouragement, #GraceMoments, Thankful & Grateful Thursday, #FaithonFire, #FreshMarketFriday, Grace & Truth, Faith 'n Friends