“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Fear is relentless. It whispers worst-case scenarios. It replays past failures. It magnifies obstacles until they look like giants. Left unchecked, fear will paralyze a man before the battle even begins.

That’s why courage is not a suggestion in Scripture — it’s a command. When Joshua stood on the banks of the Jordan, staring at the Promised Land, he also stared at fortified cities, entrenched enemies, and impossible odds. Fear made sense. But God said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.”

Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is faith in action while fear is still screaming. David didn’t face Goliath because he was fearless. He faced him because he knew the battle belonged to the Lord. Esther didn’t approach the king because she felt brave. She approached him knowing her life was on the line, but declaring, “If I perish, I perish.” Courage rises not when fear is gone, but when faith outweighs fear.

And courage is contagious. One man’s roar can awaken an army. When David ran toward Goliath, Israel followed. When Jonathan attacked the Philistines with only his armor bearer, faith spread through the camp. When Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem, knowing the cross awaited Him, He modeled the ultimate courage — and that courage birthed the Church.

You don’t need to wait until you feel ready. You don’t need to wait until fear leaves. Step forward anyway. Roar anyway. The Lion of Judah lives within you, and His Spirit emboldens you.

The world is desperate for men who refuse to bow to fear. When you roar with courage, others around you will rise.