3 Keys to Finding Courage When Facing Challenges

Women from 21 countries attended the conference where I spoke in Portugal last weekend. One gal traveled from Uzbekistan. Two arrived from Azerbaijan. Several came from war-torn Ukraine.

One woman traveled from Beirut, bringing stories of seeing bombed buildings and displaced men, women, and children sleeping on the streets as her taxi made the dangerous trek to the airport.

My respect for these sisters-in-the-faith cannot be measured. Some shed tears while talking about their challenges—and understandably so. We hugged, and I asked God to give them and their loved ones comfort and protection. I also prayed for their courage to stand strong despite the storm winds that threaten to topple them.

Courage defined

An online dictionary defines courage as “the quality of being ready and willing to face negative situations involving danger or pain without fear.” 

If I could, I’d tweak that definition to say courage is “the quality of being ready and willing to face negative situations involving danger or pain despite one’s fear.”

Life is never picture-perfect. No matter who we are or where we live, we’ll face challenges that strike fear into our hearts. Thankfully, we don’t need to let that fear paralyze or consume us. Even though our circumstances might loom large and cast a big shadow, we can face them with courage. 

3 keys to finding courage

The women I met last weekend came from different countries and backgrounds, but they share a common perspective about dealing with circumstances far beyond their control. Here are three actions they take to overcome fear.

• Read the Word

When we feel as though we’re walking a dark path into a darker unknown, God’s Word gives us light and hope. “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path,” wrote the psalmist (Psalm 119:105).

The Scripture reminds us of God’s presence. It recalls His power to make us overcomers. It recounts His promises to give us strength, to revive us, and to fill us with peace. Therefore, let’s guard our time in the Word jealously. Its truth dispels the shadows.

• Practice praise

Rick Warren says, “The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, trusting Him during a trial, surrendering while suffering, and loving Him when He seems distant.” 

Rather than mentally rehearsing our fears, let’s sing songs to the One who’s bigger than any challenge we face. Let’s worship Him for His wisdom, His faithfulness, and His sovereignty. Let’s adore Him for His goodness and His guarantees of victory to those who trust Him.

Praise might not change our circumstances, but it changes our focus. It places our eyes on the One who rules over every detail of our lives.

• Seek community

The enemy of our souls will try to convince us that no one really cares about us and the challenges we face. He’ll say everyone’s busy dealing with their own stuff, so we shouldn’t bother or burden them. 

It’s true – everyone’s dealing with challenges of one sort or another, but isolating ourselves is never the way to go. When we do this, we become easy prey, like vulnerable little lambs separated from the flock. 

Let’s tell those we trust about the challenges we face so they can come alongside in prayer and practical support. We would want others to do the same if they needed their courage bolstered, right?

Ultimately, we find courage knowing God loves us and will never leave us. He has only our best interest in mind, and He will give us everything we need to face our challenges with courage.

“Take heart,” says Matt Chandler. “We serve a God of infinite riches and knowledge. We are small, but he is able.”