Much is said about courage and perseverance in the Bible. While some consider that to have courage means to have no fear, others like myself believe that courage provides us the ability to act in the face of fear. Which brings me to today’s Bible-sounding quote…

“Be men now, dear friends, and take up the heart of courage, and have consideration for each other in the strong encounters, since more come through alive when men consider each other.” – Homer, The Ilead c. 800 BC

We see that the notion of courage has been around for a very long time, and that’s because such quality traits have been ingrained in the human spirit from the beginning. Here is a formal definition of courage according to Webster and Dictionary.com.

Courage - [kuhr ij] – noun | Definition:
1. the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.
2. the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

The courage written of by Homer was preceded by the courage written of in the Old Testament book of Joshua by approximately 400 years. While the idea of courage may be the same, and the context of having courage through war may be the same, the courage we read about in the Bible has much more power. And why is that?

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 NKJV

So we see that courage is a universal trait, and that whether it comes from the Bible or not, it is to be desired and those that display it are admired. The difference lies in where we get the power and strength to be courageous. If our courage comes solely from the spirit of man, then it will have its limitations. But if we walk with God, and stand on His promise that He is with us wherever we go, then our courage will be bolstered by the Spirit and power of God.