There are many Bible stories about being courageous, brave, and daring. Some of them were courageous, acting despite their fear of the difficulties of their circumstances. Others were more spontaneous, acting without acknowledging the danger or difficulty of the situation. Finally, some dare to step out of their comfort zone to be bold, adventurous, and risky. The Holy Spirit living within each of us is the force behind our courageous, brave, and daring actions. It requires us to rely on God’s promises.
Jesus Christ bravely and courageously came down from heaven to be a sacrifice for our transgressions. As fully God and man, he faced all of the fear and difficulty we face as humans and deliberately decided to proceed. However, there are many stories in the bible about courage and the brave and daring for us to use as an example. Let’s dive into a few courageous women and men.
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Joshua 1:6 ESV
Joshua And God’s Command
In the Old Testament, God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous to inherit the promised land. He would face many battles in capturing it, as giants and other strong nations currently inhabited it. However, with God’s help, Joshua knew he could accomplish this. He believed in God’s word that proclaimed this land for God’s people. He dared to move forward to accomplish God’s plan after Moses’s death.
Moses had some big shoes for Joshua to fill after wandering in the desert for 40 years. He was now tasked to lead the children of Israel into a strange land. Joshua boldly led the Jewish people into the promised land. With God’s promise, provision, and protection, Joshua knew he could accomplish all God asked. Therefore, God told Joshua three times to be strong and courageous. God wanted him to know He meant every word of his promises. Joshua courageously believed that God would never leave or forsake him. He could count on God because Joshua was a man of God and would keep God’s laws. Joshua dared to move forward.
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
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Joshua 1:5 ESV
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
The Story of David and Abigail
David, who was God’s second pick to rule Israel after King Saul, had to be the most courageous. He spent most of his life at war or running from King Saul. King Saul feared David because David was the newly anointed king. David was 15 years old when God chose him to be king. However, King David would not begin his reign until he was 30 years old. He had to place all his trust in God to provide for him and protect him while he dealt with hard times. David did not spend his time cowering in fear. He courageously helped others in need and did many great things in the name of the Lord.
For example, when David heard that a man named Nabal was shearing his sheep, he protected Nabal’s shepherds. He sent word to Nabel to provide whatever he had on hand for their protection. However, Nable refused to provide any provisions for their aid. For this disrespect, David prepared to go up against Nabal with four hundred men. However, Nabal’s wife prevented this disaster by boldly humbling herself to save her household. She courageously presented herself before David, a great warrior out to avenge the disrespect of her husband Nabal.
Abigail presented him with various food gifts for his protection. Thereby preventing David from committing bloodguilt with his hand. Hence, this allowed God’s power to avenge the insult. You can read the bible verses about David and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25:2-42. David dared to survive until God made him king. Abigail dared to stand up to a man willing to destroy her.
The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 1 Samuel 16:1 ESV
Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually. 1 Samuel 18:29 ESV
Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 1 Samuel 18:12 ESV
And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 1 Samuel 23:8 ESV
Queen Esther’s Great Courage
When King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) replaced Queen Vashti because she refused his order to present herself to him and his court, he replaced her with Esther. However, Queen Esther in this new position would have to respond to God’s call to save her people. With the great threat to her own life, she would have to present herself to King Xerxes to petition to save the lives of her people.
Not only was it the right thing to do, but this is the position she was placed in for such a time as this. Esther knew that if anyone tried to present themselves to the king without being called could be put to death unless the king held out the golden scepter to receive them. Esther called on the Jewish people to fast for three days and nights. She courageously declared, “If I perish, I perish.”
In this Bible story, Esther demonstrated so much courage by rising to the occasion to save the Jewish people from a deadly scheme. With the help of her family member, her uncle Mordecai, who encouraged her to do the right thing in the best interests of her people. Queen Esther boldly dared to stand up for her people.
But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him. Esther 1:12 ESV
the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Esther 2:17 ESV
“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” Esther 4:11 ESV
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 ESV
“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16 ESV
Daniel’s Courage And Boldness
It takes a lot of courage to defy the law of the land if it means you could be put to death. However, Daniel feared losing God’s love, therefore, he was willing to die in the lion’s den. This takes incredible courage and boldness. Daniel, living in exile at the time, knew the people of Israel were there because of their unfaithfulness to God. No authority or lion was going to prevent him from worshipping God.
Through deception, the high officials and the satraps devised a plan to find grounds for complaint against Daniel. Therefore, they used his connection with the law of God against him. They asked King Darius to establish an ordinance and enforce it. If anyone is found to be praying to anyone other than King Darius for 30 days would be put to death in the lion’s den.
However, Daniel continued to pray and give thanks to God three times per day. For this, they cast Daniel into the Lion’s Den. However, God sent an angel to shut the mouth of the lion because Daniel was found blameless. He dared to worship his God. You can read the entire story in Daniel Chapter 6.
Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” Daniel 6:5 ESV
All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Daniel 6:7 ESV
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
‘My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” ‘ Daniel 6:22
Job Courageously Faces God
The book of Job is one of my favorite books in the Bible. I love it because of God’s restoration power. No matter how much we lose, God will always restore us. Job knew this and courageously waited on God to explain why his life had fallen apart. He could have taken the easy way out and cursed God and died. Job chose to be bold and wait to question God.
Job bravely stood up to his friends to tell them they were wrong. He knew, and God knew he was a righteous man, blameless and upright. Therefore, only the Lord God could explain the “why” of his loss and pain. There was nothing his friends could say to comfort him or convince him he was wrong in the sight of God. Job dared to request an audience with God to argue his case.
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” Job 2:9 ESV
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. Job 1:1 ESV
In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1:22 ESV
“As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, Job 5:8 ESV
What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. Job 13:2-3
The Conversion Of The Apostle Paul
As Saul, the Apostle Paul, persecuted the followers of Jesus Christ. However, encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus changed Saul’s life. Instead of threatening and murdering the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, he became a chosen instrument of Jesus. It must have taken a lot of courage for Paul to present himself to the very people whom he had vowed to kill.
It was a good thing that Barnabas believed in him and accepted that he was for them, not against them. Paul boldly began to preach in the name of Jesus. There was no spirit of fear found in him, even though people were seeking to kill him for preaching in the name of Jesus. He was very courageous in his desire to commune with those following the Way and to share the gospel. Paul dared to join those he once wished to persecute. Read the full story in Acts Chapter 9:1-31.
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2 ESV
‘But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.’ Acts 9:15 ESV
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. Acts 9:26 ESV
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. Acts 9;27 ESV
And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. Acts 9:29 ESV
Jesus: The Definition of Courage
There is none more courageous, brave, or daring than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was courageous because He chose to be a living sacrifice for us, even though he knew he was going to suffer and die for our transgressions. Our Lord is brave beyond all others because of his fearless act of dying for our salvation. He boldly paid the price for us for the glory of the Lord.
His sacrifice is a price we can never repay. It is a gift from God. This act demonstrates how much God loves us. He would sacrifice His only son for us. All we have to do to receive the gift of eternal life is to believe in Jesus. Christ Jesus dared to love us to His death. We should dare to believe.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV
Recap of Stories In The Bible About Courage And The Brave And Daring
From the story of Joshua to the many other stories of courage in the Bible, we can use them to help us in the face of adversity. We can use the main characters of these stories to encourage us to be courageous, brave, and daring. They did not face all their challenges on their own strength. They had the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s provision and protection.
These stories are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many stories of men and women of the Bible that demonstrate a tremendous amount of courage, the story of Moses, the story of Ruth, and Peter’s story to name a few more. Spend time in the Word, and they will all come to life.
You can experience the promises of God through their fear, despair, uncertainty, and loss. You will see how they coped with their feelings, trials, tribulations, and with God. Hence, you will see how they interacted with God by questioning Him, praying to Him, and expressing their anger, joy, and fear. Subsequently, you will grow in your faith and learn to hear God’s voice when you read the Bible and pray to Him throughout your day.
The power of faith and prayer can move mountains. There is nothing we cannot overcome and accomplish to thrive and survive. Christian faith is so powerful that we only need the size of a mustard seed. There is nothing in this world that we need to fear with God on our side. Therefore, go out and be courageous, brave, and daring. I dare you to believe that amazing things are possible with God.
Here are some steps to help you be courageous, brave, and Daring.
1. Meditate on God’s word
2. Pray without ceasing
3. Fellowship with other believers
4. Ask for forgiveness
5. Forgive others
6. Love God
7. Love yourself
8. Love your neighbor
9. Give generously of your time, talent, and treasure
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrew 13:6 ESV
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 ESV