What is Courage?

"Courage is fear that has said its prayers."

Those words were said to me by a friend in a conversation a little over 10 years ago. Something about these words resonated with me.

My friend wasn't saying that the fear had to go away for courage to exist. Rather, they were saying that courage can exist right alongside fear.

What it all comes down to, is how we handle the fear.

Are we going to allow fear to hold us back from doing something?

Or are we going to do it anyways - even if we still have fear?

I'm not talking about fear that keeps us safe, or keeps us from doing something stupid. That's a healthy and needed fear. The fear I'm talking about is the fear that often keeps us from doing what God is asking us to do. The fear that keeps us from stepping into an opportunity God is providing for us.

The kind of feat holds us back from what God has in store for us. It causes us to miss out on what God may be wanting to do in and through us.

This is what we sometimes have to choose to do something despite the fear. When we choose courage, and in the process, allow God to be shown in and through us.

We only develop this kind of courage when we've taken the time to develop our relationship with God. When we know Him well enough that we can admit our fear about what He's asking of us and declare our trust in Him for the outcome, even in the midst of fear.

"Courage is fear that has said its prayers."

Where do you need courage today?

How if fear holding you back?

Have you talked to God about it?

Will you choose to trust God and move forward anyways?