I Corinthians 16: 13
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
The dictionary defines the word courage as the ability to do something in the face of fear or grief. With the permission of English scholars, I would like to re-define courage as ‘the fortitude to do something in the face of fear, grief, opposition, difficulties or challenges’. The word fortitude here suggests it takes inner strength, firmness of purpose, or toughness of spirit to keep moving or working despite the pain, struggles, opposition, challenges, and difficulties.
There is a general misconception of the concept of courage. It is often mistaken to be 0% of fear, and 100% of boldness, if I may put it in mathematical terms. However, a careful analysis of the definition above suggests that there could be an element of fear; or the mind could harbor a tinge of discouragement, disappointment, or despondency. So, courage is never the absence of fear. Nevertheless, the ability to accomplish the task despite any/every prevailing constraint(s) is what is known as courage!
Another interesting insight is this – while the aforementioned constraints are undesirable at the core, they are necessary for the definition of courage. In other words, courage is co-dependent on fear, challenges, difficulties, opposition, etc. because they compliment it! Think of it – how can we measure courage if these constraints are lacking? The hindering nature of these limitations significantly contribute to the meaning, existence, and definition of the word courage! What an irony!
A simple study of courageous women in the Bible reveals this obvious truth – they had to overcome great, pain, fear, oppositions, challenges, and difficulties (emotionally, psychologically, or physically) to be described as courageous. Esther risked her life to save her people, Ruth took a plunge into the unknown world of her mother in law, Hannah endued Peninah’s ridicule until Samuel came along, Mary (the mother of Jesus) overcame the shame of premarital pregnancy, Deborah accepted the challenge of a Judge and Prophetess at a time when such positions were uncommon among women!
The crux of the argument is this – courage does not mean we are fearless, or unmoved in life’s battles, or the tasks we have to accomplish in life. Instead, courage means we move forward despite all odds, it means we go after our dreams even if still afraid, it means we confront and overcome every constraint, it means we resist and rise above every limitation!
Folks, this is the meaning of courage.