How to Be Strong and Courageous When Fear Overwhelms You

In Joshua 1, before the Israelites cross over the River Jordan into the Promised Land, the Lord tells Joshua to be strong. Actually, God tells him to be strong a number of times in the first chapter alone.

There was a period of my life where the Lord had me meditating on this section of Scripture, and he wouldn't let me move past it. No matter how many times I tried to move on to chapter 2, I kept being pulled back to read and re-read Joshua chapter 1. This was when I felt weak. I felt like I had no control over what was happening in my life. I felt like a victim of my circumstances.

My husband, Christopher, and I had decided that I would be a stay-at-home mom after the birth of our first daughter. We chose that route after feeling led by the Lord. Christopher was the sole provider, and times were hard for us. As it looked like our material and financial lives were crumbling apart, God told me to be strong. “But I feel weak, Lord,” was my response. “Be strong,” was His response. And I didn't understand why He was telling me to be something I didn't believe I was capable of.

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I've come to learn that God is always calling us to do things we don't believe we can accomplish. That’s because without Him, we can’t. He calls us to do things like have impossible strength and courage because, at the end of the day, we have to realize that those were never things we were going to be able to accomplish on our own. He calls us to step out in faith obediently and trust that He will be there to lay a firm path under our feet. We start, but He is the one who accomplishes the mighty, powerful work in our lives.

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." - Psalm 40:2

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I thought my world was falling apart back when I was a new stay-at-home mom. Actually, though, my life was coming together. God was giving me wisdom, experience, and the opportunity to keep moving forward in my life through faith, even though I didn't understand how I would overcome. Well, I'm here and alive to tell you that God was right! During that season, he impressed on my heart that even though I felt weak, I was not. I had him on my side, and my weakness only served to display his strength.

Since we are human, we all have areas where we are weak and where we are strong. In the areas where we are strong, we are because He is. And in the ways that we are weak, God’s “power is made perfect.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV)

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If you can recall in the book of Numbers, Joshua and Caleb saw who lived in the land that the Lord wanted to give the Israelites, and although the people there were bigger and stronger, Joshua and Caleb knew that they could take the land because God was with them (Numbers 13:30). Maybe you need to be reminded that your strength lies in God, not in yourself. Perhaps you are looking at your situation through your perspective. God wants you to come up higher to where he is, so that you can view the things that make you feel small and weak the way he does. Be strong.

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Fear and I have definitely gone round and round over the last two years of my life. I can say that I am a victor over fear, but it took being afraid and being placed in situations to face and reject it.

I met fear the day my daughter was born. We had to have an emergency C-section, which was never part of the plan for Christopher and me. We had planned for a natural birth at a birth center, not a surgical one in a hospital. I hated hospitals because it reminded me of sickness and death. Even though I intellectually knew that people get healed and live there, the reputation hospitals had in my mind wasn't a good one.

I will say that I wasn't ready to die on that operating table. But I felt like it. I mean, to be honest, up until that point, my pregnancy was healthy and extremely low-risk. I didn't even understand how we got there. So, if being in the hospital could happen to someone like me, surely death could happen too, right? And it wasn’t just my life that I feared for. It was my daughter’s life, too. Her heart rate dropped with every contraction I had. The contractions that were supposed to bring her alive into the world were instead hurting her. I was afraid.

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In that operating room, I trembled with fear. I smelt it in the air. It was overwhelming. But in my heart, I knew that Jesus was my savior for a reason. He had defeated and conquered fear. So, I thought on his name. Almost instantly, the fear in that room melted away.

Jesus gained the victory over fear and death. He gave fear and death black eyes and knocked them out for good. I had Jesus. I still do. I love the scripture in 2 Timothy 1:7: “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Fear is a spirit, but one that God has not given us. Therefore, we can be courageous and live above fear. This doesn't mean that we won't ever feel afraid. We will. If persistent fear or anxiety begins interfering with daily life, speaking with a qualified mental health professional can be a wise step alongside prayer, Scripture, and Christian community. This means that when we start to feel fear rise up, we can combat it with the truth of what God has given us. Courage.

Maybe the source of your weakness and fear isn't the same as mine. That's okay; it doesn't make your weakness and fear any less valid to God. God’s Word is the same for my situation, as it is for yours, as it is for the next person. It is real, active, and alive. Decide not to live in a place of weakness and fear. Take captive the victim mentality and choose to know yourself as God knows you. Strong and courageous!

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Resting in God does not always mean that fear immediately disappears. It means choosing to bring that fear into His presence rather than carry it alone.

When fear rises:

• Name honestly what you are afraid of in prayer.
• Return to a passage such as Joshua 1:9 or Psalm 40:2.
• Remember what is true about God’s presence and character.
• Ask a trusted friend, pastor, counselor, or family member for support.
• Take one responsible, faithful step instead of trying to solve everything at once.

If fear or anxiety becomes persistent and begins disrupting daily life, seeking help from a licensed mental health professional can be part of wise and faithful care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Courage and Fear

• What does “be strong and courageous” mean in Joshua 1:9? 
  God was preparing Joshua to lead Israel after Moses’ death and enter the Promised Land. Joshua’s courage would come from obeying God and trusting His presence, not from feeling naturally fearless or relying on personal strength.
• Does feeling afraid mean that I lack faith? 
  No. Faithful people throughout Scripture experienced fear, grief, and uncertainty. Courage means turning toward God and taking the next faithful step, even when fear remains.
• How can I trust God when fear still feels overwhelming? 
  Begin by telling God exactly what you fear. Return to His promises, ask trusted people for support, and focus on the next wise action rather than trying to control every possible outcome.
• What is the difference between fearing God and living in fear? 
  The fear of the Lord refers to reverent awe, worship, and submission to God. Living in fear means allowing anxiety or perceived danger to control our thoughts, decisions, and actions.
• Is it okay for Christians to seek counseling for anxiety or fear? 
  Yes. Prayer, Scripture, Christian community, and professional mental health care can work together. Seeking qualified help does not mean that a person lacks faith.
• What Bible verses can I read when I need strength and courage? 
  Joshua 1:9, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 40:1–3, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Corinthians 12:9, and 2 Timothy 1:7 offer encouragement about God’s presence, strength, and care.

For Further Reading

• 5 Ways to Keep Faith over Fear
• A Prayer for Strength for When You Face Your Fears
• What Does It Mean for Christians to Have a "Sound Mind"?
• Unlocking Your Secret Spiritual Superpower: Finding God’s Strength in Life’s Weakness
• 5 Steps to Finding Strength in Your Battles

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