Fear is one of the most honest human experiences there is. It shows up before the difficult conversation, the major decision, the step into something new that the mind has not yet made peace with. It is present before the diagnosis is confronted, before the relationship is honest about what it needs, before the calling is acted on in a way that risks failure in front of people whose opinion still matters too much. Fear is not the opposite of faith — some of the most faithful people in Scripture were also some of the most afraid. What distinguished them was not the absence of the fear but the decision they made in the presence of it. Scripture does not ask for the absence of fear. It asks for courage — which has always been a different thing entirely.
That’s exactly what this collection of Bible verses about courage is here to build. You’ll find the best Scripture verses on being strong and courageous, on God going before you into the thing that frightens you, on the perfect love that casts out fear, on moving forward when the outcome is uncertain and the risk is real, and on the God who has told His people to not be afraid hundreds of times in Scripture — not because the circumstances were not frightening but because He was always going to be in them. Read them before the hard thing while the fear is still loudest. Write the ones that reach you most in a place you will find when the courage starts to waver. The fear is real. So is the God standing in it with you — and He has never once sent anyone somewhere He was not already there.
JUMP TO:
The Command That Gets Repeated More Than Almost Any Other — Be Strong and Courageous
- “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.” — Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
- “Be strong and courageous.” — Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
- “Be strong and very courageous.” — Joshua 1:7 (NIV)
- “Have I not commanded you?” — Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
- “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:7 (ESV)
- “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” — 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NIV)
- “He will not fail you or forsake you.” — 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NIV)
- “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)
- “Be courageous; be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)
- “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” — Psalm 31:24 (NIV)
- “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” — Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
- “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)
- “The Lord your God goes with you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)
- “Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them.'” — Deuteronomy 31:7 (NIV)
- “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.” — Deuteronomy 31:23 (NIV)
- “I myself will be with you.” — Deuteronomy 31:23 (NIV)
God Is With You — the Reason Courage Is Possible at All
- “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
- “I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you.” — Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
- “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” — Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
- “Do not fear; I will help you.” — Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
- “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:20 (NIV)
- “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” — Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
- “The Lord himself goes before you.” — Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
- “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” — Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
- “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'” — Hebrews 13:6 (NIV)
- “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” — Psalm 118:6 (NIV)
- “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” — Psalm 46:1–2 (NIV)
- “Therefore we will not fear.” — Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
- “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” — Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
- “I will be with you.” — Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
- “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” — Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
- “A mighty warrior who saves.” — Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
- “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” — Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
The Fear Is Real — and So Is the Command to Go Anyway
- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
- “Not a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
- “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” — Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
- “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise — in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” — Psalm 56:3–4 (NIV)
- “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” — Psalm 56:3 (NIV)
- “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” — 1 John 4:18 (NIV)
- “Perfect love drives out fear.” — 1 John 4:18 (NIV)
- “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” — Psalm 34:4 (NIV)
- “The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?” — Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
- “Whom shall I fear?” — Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
- “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” — Proverbs 28:1 (NIV)
- “The righteous are as bold as a lion.” — Proverbs 28:1 (NIV)
- “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
- “In God I trust and am not afraid.” — Psalm 56:11 (NIV)
- “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” — Psalm 27:3 (NIV)
- “Even then I will be confident.” — Psalm 27:3 (NIV)
- “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” — Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
When God Sends You Somewhere That Terrifies You — the Calling Verses
- “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” — Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)
- “‘Alas, Sovereign Lord,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am too young.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am too young.” You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.” — Jeremiah 1:6–8 (NIV)
- “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.” — Jeremiah 1:8 (NIV)
- “Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘I have put my words in your mouth.'” — Jeremiah 1:9 (NIV)
- “Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave human beings their mouths? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.'” — Exodus 4:10–12 (NIV)
- “Now go; I will help you speak.” — Exodus 4:12 (NIV)
- “For who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?” — Romans 9:20 (NIV)
- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28 (NIV)
- “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
- “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” — Philippians 2:13 (NIV)
- “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14 (ESV)
- “For such a time as this.” — Esther 4:14 (ESV)
- “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” — Esther 4:16 (NIV)
- “If I perish, I perish.” — Esther 4:16 (NIV)
- “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.” — Psalm 138:8 (ESV)
- “No weapon forged against you will prevail.” — Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)
The People Who Were Afraid and Went Anyway — the Courage You Can Learn From
- “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” — Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)
- “Even though he did not know where he was going.” — Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)
- “And David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.'” — 1 Samuel 17:32 (NIV)
- “Your servant will go and fight him.” — 1 Samuel 17:32 (NIV)
- “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'” — 1 Samuel 17:45 (NIV)
- “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.” — 1 Samuel 17:45 (NIV)
- “But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” — Daniel 3:18 (NIV)
- “But even if he does not.” — Daniel 3:18 (NIV)
- “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” — Daniel 6:10 (ESV)
- “As he had done previously.” — Daniel 6:10 (ESV)
- “Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” — Matthew 14:29 (NIV)
- “He got down out of the boat.” — Matthew 14:29 (NIV)
- “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
- “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.” — Acts 16:6 (NIV)
- “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” — Revelation 12:11 (NIV)
- “They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” — Revelation 12:11 (NIV)
- “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.'” — Ruth 1:16 (NIV)
- “Where you go I will go.” — Ruth 1:16 (NIV)
- “Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me.'” — Esther 4:15–16 (NIV)
When the Fight Is Long — Courage for the Middle of Things
- “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” — 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (NIV)
- “Not crushed. Not in despair. Not abandoned. Not destroyed.” — 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (NIV)
- “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)
- “We do not lose heart.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)
- “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 (NIV)
- “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 (NIV)
- “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” — Romans 8:37 (NIV)
- “More than conquerors.” — Romans 8:37 (NIV)
- “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” — Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)
- “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” — Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)
- “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” — Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)
- “After you have done everything, to stand.” — Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)
- “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” — Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)
- “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
- “If we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
- “Through him who gives me strength I can do everything.” — Philippians 4:13 (BSB)
- “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
Courage to Speak — the Verses for the Voice Being Silenced
- “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” — Romans 1:16 (NIV)
- “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” — Romans 1:16 (NIV)
- “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” — Proverbs 31:8 (NIV)
- “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” — Proverbs 31:9 (NIV)
- “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
- “Do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions.” — Ezekiel 2:6 (NIV)
- “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” — Matthew 10:28 (ESV)
- “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” — Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
- “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” — Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
- “Fear of man will prove to be a snare.” — Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
- “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.” — Psalm 118:6 (NIV)
- “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you will say. Just say whatever is given you to say at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” — Mark 13:11 (NIV)
- “It is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” — Mark 13:11 (NIV)
- “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” — Acts 4:31 (NIV)
- “Spoke the word of God boldly.” — Acts 4:31 (NIV)
- “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord.” — 2 Timothy 1:8 (NIV)
- “Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.” — Psalm 51:15 (NIV)
The Courage Underneath All Other Courage — Knowing Who Holds the Outcome
- “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” — Psalm 28:7 (NIV)
- “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” — Psalm 20:7 (NIV)
- “If God is for us, who can be against us?” — Romans 8:31 (NIV)
- “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” — Romans 8:32 (NIV)
- “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” — Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)
- “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” — Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
- “God is the strength of my heart.” — Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
- “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or fail you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” — Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV)
- “He will not leave you or fail you.” — Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV)
- “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” — Proverbs 21:31 (NIV)
- “Victory rests with the Lord.” — Proverbs 21:31 (NIV)
- “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
- “I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” — Psalm 121:1–2 (NIV)
- “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” — Jeremiah 1:8 (ESV)
- “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.” — Psalm 138:7 (ESV)
- “With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” — Psalm 60:12 (NIV)
What Courage Produces — the Other Side of the Scary Thing
- “Be strong and courageous, and do the work.” — 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NIV)
- “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
- “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” — Psalm 34:4 (NIV)
- “He delivered me from all my fears.” — Psalm 34:4 (NIV)
- “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” — 1 John 5:4 (NIV)
- “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” — 1 John 5:4 (NIV)
- “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” — 2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NIV)
- “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life.” — James 1:12 (NIV)
- “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” — Revelation 12:11 (NIV)
- “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'” — Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
- “Well done, good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
- “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” — Psalm 84:11 (NIV)
- “He will not withhold any good thing.” — Psalm 84:11 (NIV)
- “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” — Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
- “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” — Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
- “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.” — Jude 1:24 (ESV)
- “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” — Revelation 22:21 (NIV)