Courage: A Word Study
Courage, by Sister M. Eulalia, RSM
“Courage is a fabric,
So woven of the soul,
It shrinks with fear, stretches
When straining toward a goal.
But when in eyes it glows
Awaiting tyrant’s rod,
It is of mystic birth,
Holding a tryst with God.”
This poem has returned to my mind regularly throughout the past two years. Certainly I have seen the need in myself and in our culture for a reminder of the importance, availabiltiy, and power of courage. Every year I have tried to choose a Biblical word to study and mark the year. I typically approach my time of study by asking three simple questions: What is it? What produces it? And what does it produce? God has always met me when I have come to Him with sincere questions, and today I share with you a small piece of the fabric from my soul on the topic of courage. In answering the first question, “What is courage?” I found that the Greek word translated “courage” literally means “boldness and confidence”. The dictionary defines courage as “the ability to do something that frightens one”, or “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, pain, grief, or difficulty”. After reviewing a number of definitions, I settled on defining courage as a mental and moral strength to choose (by one’s will) to firmly focus upon a decision which enables one to act in the face of danger or difficulty, hardship, or opposition. A synonym could be bravery, and the opposite of courage would be to cowardly shrink back in fear. The dictionary is helpful in defining courage, however it doesn’t share how we get courage or where it comes from. When I was researching this word and the idea and actions of courage, I found a number of different types of couraged discussed. The first three frequently listed were broad categories mentioned in many places, and then I also found at least half a dozen more specific, (though sometimes overlapping) types. A number of these specifics are mentioned in Charlotte Mason’s book, “Ourselves”, as she discusses the topic of courage and its various manifestations. Altogether I came up with the following list for a total of 10 categories to consider:
1. Perhaps first in importance is what we typically call “moral courage” – standing up to injustice and/or caring for the vulnerable. Mason refers to this sometimes as the “courage of attack”, describing this as a type of courage demonstrated through those mama-bear-like acts of moral courage done to protect the young and vulerable.
2. Second we have what I would call “intellectual courage”. This is the courage to stand up to or challenge wrong thinking or wrong ideas best done from a well-informed yet humble attitude.
3. The third broad category is commonly called “physical courage”, which is the courage to remain steadfast in the face of some physical opposition, danger or trouble, fear or distraction. This would somewhat overlap with what Mason calls the “courage of endurance”. Biblically speaking, this is also the courage which keeps a person going by faith, trusting God in the face of an of adversity (not shrinking back, as Hebrews 10:32-39 describes).
4. I found the idea of having what Mason calls the “courage of serenity” especially significant. She describes this as the courage to meet pain or trouble with calmness and fortitude – in order to be of some use to others in a difficult or frightening situation. Biblical examples of this would be Joshua 1:9 or 2 Samuel 10:12. We all know those who emotionally break down at any sign of danger, and become useless to help, and instead actually worsen the situation. But those individuals who keep calm in the face of an upsetting circumstance become the most useful and beneficial to help others. This is certainly a worthy goal to recognize, practice, and pursue.
5. The next type of courage Mason describes is titled the “courage of affairs” and denotes the courage to attend to daily tasks and not become anxious over concerning future outcomes, as Psalm 112:7 instructs. One of my favorite prayerful quotes from the book, “Valley of Vision” inserts the words, “Teach me the happy art of attending to things temporal with a mind set on things eternal.” This is definitely a beautiful art.
6. Mason also adds the “courage of opinions and frankness” to the list. This is the courage to thoughtfully share the truth in love, though again ought to be shared from a well-informed, yet humble posture.
7 & 8. The courage of “reproof” or “confession” includes the courage to give or receive correction rightly, and to correct or confess sins and failings with humility. In these two forms of courage, we decide, despite the embarassment or opposition we may experience, that it is the right thing to do.
9. “Courage of capacity” is the courage to face the opportunities God has put before us to do – not looking at our own inadequacies (or abilities), but trusting in His power and direction to work in, for, and through us.
10. This final type of courage is one I did not find listed with any other source, but found it mentioned again and again in the Bible. This is what I call the “courage of waiting”. As in Psalm 27:14, the Bible regularly talks about the hard but significant task of trusting God with courage as we wait upon Him.
Courage is a strength or ability, but it is typically considered a derivative quality – meaning it comes from something else. But from what, where, or when does it come… and how? This leads to my second question. After defining courage. I simply ask “What produces courage?” Charlotte Mason would say, on page 112 of her book, “Ourselves”, that “we all have courage”, meaning as human God-image-bearing persons, we have been created WITH this quality and at least with the potential ability to courageously think and act. As human beings, by God’s design, we can choose to act not merely out of instinct (to run from fears and opposition, as an animal would). We at least have the capacity to face fear or danger by an act or decision of the will. Courage is not out of anyone’s reach. It is not something only some people posess and others don’t, though we have perhaps developed this quality as individuals to varying degrees. But then comes the question of what exactly causes or helps us to make courageous decisions which move us to courageous action? In nearly every case, when God calls us to “fear not”, he gives us a reason to strengthen our courage by putting our confidence in Him. I’ve developed an acronym to remember 5 things to bolster our courage. I encourage you to look up the related. listed passages.
My acronym is a plural fruit, PEARS:
P = Promises (Deut. 3:22, Ps. 56:3, Ps. 23:4, Is. 41:10) We develop courage when we trust God’s promises/His word. When we have confidence in God, and what He says about His sovereign care and good purposes over His children, we can have courage to face trials.
E =Eternity (Heb. 10:34-39) As believers, we strengthen our courage when we cultivate reverent mindfulness of God and the eternity with God awaiting us. With this confidence we can face trouble with courage, knowing our souls are safe forever.
A =Abide (1 Jn. 2:28) We develop courage by “abid[ing] in him” through prayer and His word.
R =Remember (Josh. 1:9, Daut. 8:2) We develop courage remembering who God is, and that He is with us in and through our trials, and by remembering past trials and how God sustained us in those. The Bible uses the word “remember” over 240 times. We are a forgetful people.
S =Spirit (2 Tim. 1:6-7) We develop courage and freedom from fear by depending upon His Spirit who is within every child of God, surrendered to God by faith in Christ.
My final question then is, “What does courage produce?” And my answer would be this:
Courage produces women (or men or children) who are willing to stand up to injustice and protect the vulnerable (like the midwives in Exodus).
Courage produces women who are powerfully fearless in challenging wrong thinking, and who remain steadfast in the face of opposition or trouble (like Abigail, who negotiated with David when Nebal insulted him).
Courage produces women who will have the wherewithall to meet pain or trouble calmly, praying and trusting God so as to actually be of use in a crisis (like Esther in the face of death and genocide) because they know they HAVE courage, and the abundant source of courage through Christ IS accessible to them. -
Courage produces women who can fearlesssly attend to their daily tasks without being overly anxious about the future (like Abraham’s wife Sarah…and the Bible says we are her children if we also “do good and do not fear anything that IS frightening” 1 Pet. 3:6 – which is perhaps my favorite Bible passage directed to women). Notice the verse does not ignore or downplay the severity of any fearful situation, yet still calls upon us to rise up and continue to “do good”.
Courage produces women who can wisely and firmly share the truth in love (like Deborah with Barak in the face of war, in Judges 4).
Courage produces women who quickly repent of and confess sin, to love Jesus without fearful regard for what others may think of us (like Mary, in repentance, washing Jesus’ feet with her hair and tears in Luke 7).
Courage produces women who can peacefully wait on God in humble, obedient service (like Ruth with Naomi), trusting He holds the outcome.
Courage produces women who will work hard and bravely share the truths and ways of the gospel (like Priscilla who worked and ministered with Paul and her husband Aquila, Rom. 16:3).
As this tumultuous year progresses, I am asking God to help me to choose courage – like Priscilla and Ruth, Mary and Deborah, Sarah, Esther, and Abigail. We will not be kept from all current or future dangers, griefs, difficulties, or opposition, but we know God is sovereign over all. Nothing can touch us without His permission and through which He will not be with us and use for our good (Romans 8). Ultimately our souls are safe in Jesus. We can face fears when we rely on (PEARS) – His Promises, keeping a view to Eternity, Abiding in prayer, Remembering his past and present faithfulness, and depending on his Spirit. We already HAVE courage. May we find in the day to day or monumental moments arising, where courage is called upon, they are truly opportunities to hold a tryst with God.
Warmly,
Anne
Blog Archive - Original Post March 2022