The Basis for Courage

Children must learn to be courageous. While movies and books often moralize that you need to “believe in yourself” and use that motto as the basis for your confidence, scripture has a different basis for where courage comes from.

First it doesn’t come from looking within yourself. The Lord told Joshua

Joshua 1:5-6a (KJV)

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage…

And David commanded Solomon, the future king of Israel with an echo of that same commission:

1 Chronicles 28:20 (KJV)

Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

Courage comes from God’s nearness, not your own self-assurance. So, are you shy about standing up to your friends when they are foolish? Remember God is with you, and be courageous. Are you fearful about your dance recital, getting sick, or monsters in the closet? God tells his children, “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”