Prayer for Courage
To pray for courage, name the specific thing you are afraid of, ask God for the courage to take the next step, and rely on His promise to be with you. Joshua 1:9 gives the pattern: strength and courage come with the command not to be afraid, and the reason given is that the LORD is with you wherever you go. Courage in this sense is strength received from God while the fear is still there.
Scripture also invites believers to bring fear to God in prayer. A prayer for courage can start by naming the fear plainly, whether it is a diagnosis, a hard talk, a decision, or a loss. A prayer for courage does not guarantee that a frightening situation will turn out as hoped.
What it does is hand the fear to God while you take the step in front of you. Some fears are heavy enough that a pastor, a counselor, or a doctor can help you carry them alongside prayer. The prayers below cover several situations where you may need words, and each one can be prayed in your own voice.
A Short Prayer for Courage
Father, I am afraid, and You already know it. Give me courage for the next step, and be strong where I am weak. Remind me that You go with me, as You promised. Amen.
A Longer Prayer When Fear Has a Name
Heavenly Father, I want to say this fear out loud before You. I am afraid of the diagnosis the doctor may give me, and I am afraid of what it will mean for the people I love. My mind keeps running ahead to outcomes I cannot see, and it wears me down. Lord, You have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Make that true in me today. Joshua heard You say to be strong and of good courage, and that You would be with him wherever he went. I receive that same word now. Be with me in the appointment, in the waiting room, and in the hours after I hear the news. Where my body feels weak, strengthen my heart. Where my thoughts spin, steady them with Your peace. I ask You for courage for the next step, and for the company of Your presence while I take it. Give the people who love me the patience to sit with me. I place this fear in Your hands, because I cannot carry it well alone. Amen.
A Prayer for Courage to Take the Next Step
Lord, the next step is the hardest part. Give me courage to make the call, sign the form, walk through the door, or say yes to the decision in front of me. I can see only this step, and that is enough for today. Let me take the step You have shown me, and trust You with what comes after it. Be strong in my weak places, as You promised in Isaiah. Amen.
A Prayer for Courage in a Hard Conversation
Father, I have a conversation ahead of me that I dread. I am afraid of how the other person will react, and I am afraid of saying the wrong words. Give me courage to speak clearly and kindly. Guard my tongue, steady my voice, and help me say what is true with love. Be with me in that room, as You promised in Deuteronomy, that You go with Your people. Give the other person a listening heart as well. I leave the outcome in Your hands. Amen.
A Prayer for Courage While Waiting for News
Lord, I am waiting, and waiting is hard. My mind wants answers that have not arrived yet, and it keeps circling back to the same questions. Teach me to wait on You, as the psalm says, and be of good courage while I wait. Strengthen my heart in the meantime. Quiet the thoughts that come in the middle of the night. When the news comes, give me the strength to face it and the wisdom to ask for help. Until then, keep my heart steady in You. Amen.
A One-Line Prayer for Courage
Lord, give me courage today, and go with me wherever I go. Amen.
A Prayer for Strength and Courage to Keep Going
Lord, I am tired, and I have been brave for a long time. Renew my strength when I have nothing left to give. Hold me up with Your righteous right hand, as You promised. Let me rest in You when the day is long, and give me courage for tomorrow's first step. Lead me to the people who can help me carry this, including a pastor, a counselor, or a doctor. Fill me with Your peace, and let me not carry this alone. Amen.
Scripture to pray
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.— Joshua 1:9 (KJV)
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.— Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV)
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.— Psalm 27:14 (KJV)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.— Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
Frequently asked questions
What is a good prayer for courage?
A good prayer for courage names the specific fear, asks God for courage for the next step, and rests on His promise to be with you. Joshua 1:9 gives a ready base: be strong and of a good courage, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. The prayer can be one sentence long, asking God for courage for the step in front of you. The short prayer above follows that same pattern.
What does the Bible say about being courageous?
The Bible ties courage to God's presence and to His commands. Joshua 1:9 and Deuteronomy 31:6 both tell the reader to be strong and of good courage, and both give the reason: the LORD is with them. Psalm 27:14 pairs courage with waiting on the LORD, and 2 Timothy 1:7 says God has given a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.
Does praying for courage mean I should not feel afraid?
No. Scripture invites believers to bring their fear to God in prayer, so the fear can be named before Him. Isaiah 41:10 says Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Praying for courage does not have to wait until the fear is gone. A prayer does not guarantee that a frightening situation will turn out as hoped.
How do I pray for courage to face a hard conversation?
Start by naming the conversation and the specific words or reactions you dread. Ask God for courage to speak clearly and kindly, and remember Deuteronomy 31:6, that the LORD your God goes with you. You can also pray for the other person. The prayer for a hard conversation above gives wording you can adapt to your own situation.
What Bible verses can I pray for strength and courage?
Isaiah 41:10 can be prayed as written, because its promises are spoken by God: I will strengthen thee, I will help thee, and I will uphold thee. Psalm 27:14 can be prayed as a request to wait on the LORD while asking for a strengthened heart. Joshua 1:9 and Deuteronomy 31:6 can be prayed as a request for courage, with God's presence named as the reason.
How do I pray for courage when I am waiting for news?
Psalm 27:14 speaks directly to waiting: wait on the LORD, and be of good courage while you do. Name the news you are waiting for, ask God to steady your thoughts, and ask Him to strengthen your heart in the meantime. A prayer cannot tell you what the news will be, and it does not guarantee the result you hope for. A pastor, counselor, or doctor can help you carry the wait.