View the Bible Reading Plan for this Month: April
There is a sacred tension between fear and faith—a place where the trembling of humanity meets the trustworthiness of God.
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”
Though not a verse, this truth resonates deeply with Scripture. Courage, in the eyes of God, has never been the denial of fear. It is the decision to believe that obedience is worth more than comfort. That faith is worth more than safety. That purpose is worth more than peace of mind.
Throughout the Bible, every act of courage was born in the presence of fear—but never in its rule. Abraham left the familiar. Moses faced Pharaoh. Esther risked her life. David stood before Goliath. Their hearts likely raced. Their voices probably shook. Yet they moved anyway, not because they were fearless, but because their faith in God was greater than their fear of what could go wrong.
1. The Weight of Fear and the Worth of Obedience
Fear is not a sin; it is a signal. It reveals what we value, where we trust, and how we see God. When fear takes over, it magnifies the problem and minimizes the promise. It makes the mountain look bigger than the Maker. But courage shifts perspective—it reminds you that obedience is worth the cost.
In Matthew 14, when Jesus walked on the water, Peter’s first response was fear. The waves were high, and the night was long. Yet Jesus said, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27 CEV). Peter’s courage began not when the storm stopped, but when his eyes shifted. He stepped out not because the sea was calm, but because Jesus was close.
Courage does not come when circumstances feel safe; it comes when obedience feels sacred. The moment you decide that following Christ matters more than protecting yourself, fear loses its throne.
2. Courage Begins with Surrender, Not Strength
The world teaches that courage is grit, muscle, or mastery over fear. But Scripture shows that true courage is surrender—surrender of control, pride, and outcomes. It is not saying, “I’ve got this,” but rather, “God’s got me.”
When Joshua faced the daunting task of leading Israel after Moses’ death, the Lord told him repeatedly, “Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 ERV). Notice the pattern—God never said, “Do not feel afraid.” He said, “Do not be afraid.” The difference is spiritual posture. Feeling fear is human. Living in fear is a choice.
Courage in Christ begins where self-sufficiency ends. You do not overcome fear by becoming stronger—you overcome it by becoming smaller before God. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you (Romans 8:11), and that truth alone redefines what courage looks like.
3. Fear Is Loud, But God Is Steady
Fear loves volume. It yells worst-case scenarios and paints pictures of everything that could go wrong. But God speaks in stillness. His voice is not in the earthquake or fire—it’s in the whisper that reminds you who you belong to (1 Kings 19:12).
Courage is quiet confidence that God is still who He said He is. It is not the roar of the lion but the steady heartbeat of trust. It says, “Even if I tremble, I will still move forward.” It says, “Even if I do not see the outcome, I will obey.”
David understood this well. He wrote, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3 CEV). He did not wait for fear to disappear; he redirected it. Courage, for the believer, is not the end of fear—it is the redirection of it toward faith.
4. What Matters More Than Fear
According to Roosevelt’s wisdom, courage comes from assessing that something else matters more than fear. In Christ, that “something else” is obedience, purpose, and love.
Jesus’ courage in Gethsemane was not the absence of fear. He knew the cross awaited Him. Yet He prayed, “Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me. But do what you want, not what I want.” (Luke 22:42 ERV). His love for humanity was greater than His fear of suffering.
The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached even after imprisonment and persecution. Why? Because the truth of the Gospel mattered more than the threat of danger. They had counted the cost and still chose to follow. That is what faith does—it values the eternal more than the immediate.
Courage does not require the removal of fear; it requires the reordering of priorities. When your heart is set on the Kingdom of God, fear becomes smaller in the light of what truly matters.
5. The Courage to Begin Again
Courage and “new beginnings” often arrive together. Every new chapter demands risk—the risk of starting over, trusting again, believing again after disappointment. But as Isaiah 43:19 (ERV) reminds us, “I am doing something new! Now you will grow like a new plant. Surely you know this is true.”
To step into a new beginning is to declare that God’s plan is more important than your fear of failure. It is to believe that His Spirit still empowers, His mercy still restores, and His love still invites you to begin again.
When fear whispers that it is too late, courage answers, “God is not finished.” When doubt says you cannot, faith replies, “Through Christ, I can.” Every act of obedience becomes a testimony that something greater than fear is shaping your life—the Spirit of God, the Author of every new beginning.
Reflection Questions to think about
What is God calling you to do that fear has made you hesitate to begin?
In what areas of your life do you need to shift from self-reliance to surrender?
How can you remind yourself daily that God’s presence is greater than your fear?
What truth do you need to speak over your life today to silence fear’s lies?
Affirmations to say to yourself
Courage is not my confidence; it is my surrender to God’s strength.
I will move forward even when fear follows close behind.
God’s presence in me is greater than the pressure around me.
My obedience matters more than my fear.
I trust that God is doing something new in me, even when I cannot yet see it.
When courage takes root in faith, fear loses its dominion. Every brave step in obedience to God becomes a seed of new beginnings—evidence that what He is doing in you is far greater than what fear can threaten. Walk boldly, even trembling if you must, knowing this: your courage does not come from having no fear, but from knowing that what God has called you to is infinitely more important than what you are afraid of losing.