Where Does Courage Come From?
Where Does Courage Come From?
I was thinking this morning about the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. (Quietly singing to myself, “If I were the king of the forest!”) He knew he needed courage. He desperately wanted courage. He just didn’t know where to get it.
That’s a question a lot of us struggle with. We need courage to have a difficult conversation, face an uncertain future, begin again after a loss, or take a step we’ve been putting off. But where does courage come from? Can we order it on Amazon? Will the Home Shopping Network run a special? Can someone who has plenty give us a little of theirs?
People often say, “Courage comes from within.” That looks good on a T-shirt. But when you’re hurting, looking within may reveal more fear, anxiety, and exhaustion than bravery. Telling yourself to be courageous doesn’t flip a switch and make all of that disappear.
Maybe we’ve been waiting for courage to feel different than it does. Don’t just run past that thought. If we expect courage to feel like the disappearance of fear, we may keep waiting when we could already be taking a step.
The Cowardly Lion wanted to stop being afraid. Yet as he traveled with his friends, he kept showing up when they needed him. His fear came along for the walk, but it didn’t make every decision for him.
I think that’s closer to how courage works in our lives. We may want confidence before we take a step, certainty before we make a decision, or peace before we start a hard conversation. Sometimes those things come later. Sometimes we take the step with a trembling voice and a heart that’s still racing.
When you’re hurting, courage may not feel like a roar. It may look like getting out of bed, making the call, telling someone the truth, or trying again tomorrow. Those moments may seem small to someone looking on. To the person living them, they can take everything they’ve got.
So where does that kind of courage come from? Maybe we need to shift our thinking. Courage isn’t simply self-reliance. For those of us who follow Jesus, it grows from a well-placed confidence in God. We can move forward because we trust his presence and his help, even when we’re painfully aware of our own limitations.
In Isaiah 41:10, God tells his people not to be afraid because he is with them. He promises to strengthen them and help them. Notice where the reassurance comes from. God points them toward who he is and what he will do. His presence gives them a reason to take heart.
That matters when we’re hurting. We can bring our fear honestly to God instead of trying to hide it until we feel stronger. We can pray, “God, I’m afraid. I don’t know how this is going to turn out. Please help me take the next step.” We can also let someone we trust walk beside us. Sometimes asking for help is itself an act of courage.
None of that means fear, anxiety, or frustration suddenly vanish. Faith doesn’t flip a switch and turn off every difficult feeling. But fear doesn’t have to have the final word about what we do next.
Take a moment to name a place where you need courage right now. Is there a conversation you’ve been avoiding? A task you keep putting off? A decision you’re afraid to face? Be specific, then ask yourself what one honest, faithful step could look like. You may need to write down what you want to say, make an appointment, ask for advice, or tell someone you’re struggling.
You don’t need to find enough courage for the rest of your life today. Ask God for help with the step in front of you. Psalm 23 reminds us that even in the darkest valley, we have the assurance of his presence. The valley is real, and so is the God who walks with us through it.
Fear may come along for the walk. But you won’t be walking alone.
