The all-powerful God has chosen us and blessed us with everything we need for a fulfilling life and a righteous path. Through His triumph over the enemy and His conquest of death, hell, and sin, we have been embraced as His children and will inherit His kingdom. However, despite these incredible blessings, why is courage still necessary for us?

Many of us hold the misconception that courage is a fixed trait, something we possess once and for all. We may consider ourselves courageous individuals until we find ourselves in a situation where courage seems to elude us, and the resulting disappointment can be disheartening. In reality, courage is not an innate gift that we receive; rather, it is a choice we must make repeatedly in different situations, sometimes even multiple times a day.

It may be difficult to grasp, but on a daily basis, humans make around 35,000 decisions. Many of these decisions are made subconsciously, while others are intentional. If we were to analyze our daily decision-making process, we would likely discover that a few choices are influenced by fear. We can either succumb to that fear or rise above it by demonstrating courage.

Numerous heroes of faith in the Bible have exemplified this truth time and time again. David, the young boy who defeated a giant with a single stone, was also the same man who ordered the murder of one of his most loyal soldiers (2 Samuel 11:14-15). Moses, who directly communicated with the Almighty, doubted God multiple times during the Israelites' exodus (Numbers 11:14-15). The disciples, witnesses to incredible miracles performed by the Son of God, fled in fear when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:50). Nevertheless, they fought the good fight and many of them became martyrs for their faith.

Courage is a conscious decision; it is not a constant companion. We must actively choose to exhibit courage in our decision-making process. 

• Am I unwittingly surrendering to fear, or can I recognize opportunities where I can demonstrate courage? 

These are questions we should ask ourselves, as we navigate the choices we face each day.