8 Bible Verses About Fear and Courage (KJV)

"Fear not" is one of the most repeated commands in Scripture, and it almost always comes with a reason: God is with you. These eight King James verses are for the moments when fear takes over and courage feels thin.

The verses

1. Isaiah 41:10 (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."

God answers fear with His presence and three promises: I will strengthen you, help you, and hold you up.

2. 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Fear is a feeling, not your identity. God gave you power, love and a sound mind.

3. Psalm 27:1 (KJV)

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Asking "whom shall I fear?" is a way of remembering how big God is compared to what scares you.

4. Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

"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."

Courage here isn't the absence of fear. It's moving forward because God goes wherever you go.

5. Psalm 56:3 (KJV)

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."

A short, honest prayer for scary moments: when I'm afraid, I'll trust You.

6. Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Valleys and shadows are real. So is the Shepherd who walks through them with you.

7. Psalm 34:4 (KJV)

"I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

This is a testimony: David sought God, and God delivered him from all his fears.

8. Deuteronomy 31:6 (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."

God goes with you. He won't fail you or leave you, which is exactly why you can be strong.

A prayer for fear and courage

Lord, I'm afraid of what's ahead. Thank you that I don't face it alone. Strengthen me where I'm weak, hold me up when my knees shake, and give me courage for the next step. Amen.

Putting it into practice

• Name your fear specifically when you pray about it.

• Remember one time God carried you through something hard, and thank Him for it.

• Say Psalm 56:3 out loud the next time fear rises.

A gentle note: prayer and professional care go together. If this is affecting your sleep, work or relationships, please talk with a doctor or counselor. In the U.S., call or text 988 any time to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Outside the U.S., contact your local emergency number.