Daily Defines Courage Through Christ

On Thursday, April 16, Olivia Daily spoke at chapel about a common misconception: that courage means having no fear. She explained that true courage is acting despite your fear, as demonstrated by Jesus. His courage was not fearlessness or glory-seeking but something that grows out of faith, obedience, and humility. Olivia challenged us to rethink courage: as trusting God in life’s hardest moments. Here is what she said: 

There is a common misconception that courage means having no fear. Yet courage, as Jesus demonstrates, is the ability to act despite having fear. Being courageous is a significant strength, whether that’s standing up for a friend or taking a personal risk, but the courage that is really worth observing is the courage that is rooted in great faith. This kind of courage is shown throughout the Bible, from the stories of Ruth and Esther to David and Goliath. But all these stories merely lead up to the pinnacle of Jesus. Jesus completely redefined the courage we all thought we knew to show what courage actually is. His courage stemmed from an unwavering faith and a commitment to truth in the face of suffering and persecution. His courage set Him apart by His sacrifice, obedience to God, and humility. Jesus set an example of how people on Earth are called to live with courage.

Bravery is one of the most defining characteristics of a hero. The courage of a hero is often the main characteristic for which they are praised. We’ve all heard the story of the brave knight who fought the dragon and saved the princess, but what gave that knight courage? Was it for his own personal gain, reward, or praise alone? The courage society often praises doesn’t always stem from good intentions, but rather from self-gain, ego, or reward. Courage can often be shown for the wrong reasons. Robbing a bank takes courage, but the intentions behind it are selfish gain and ill-gotten reward. While it is true that not all courage stems from prideful intentions, the courage we should take note of is from the true hero who conquered much more than dragons. This hero conquered the world through sacrifice, faith, and obedience, and His name is Jesus Christ.

The kind of bravery Jesus showed was genuine and honest, as evidenced by His ultimate sacrifice. In His humanity, He was scared, but instead of fear, He chose faith. In Luke 22:42, Jesus prays, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” While he felt fear, Jesus chose to be obedient to God. His fear was so profound that it even took a physical toll on his body. As it says in Luke 22:44, “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” God knew that people, in their nature, would be fearful, but that made the coming of Jesus all the more beautiful and meaningful. Jesus was fearful in His humanity, but He demonstrated what to do despite the fear. Real courage is choosing God’s will even when it is terrifying. The choice to go to the cross shows Jesus’s complete and total reliance on God, making his courage so outstanding, so holy.

Being hated, mistreated, and abused was part of a deal Jesus willingly accepted. But why? Why and how could Jesus do something so heartfelt for people who made Him suffer? It was because of a faith so strong and a trust so deep in God, which is shown in John 13:3-4: “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.” Jesus’s very identity was in the Father, which enabled him to serve perfectly. He had a humble, submissive, and servant-like heart that trusted completely in the Father’s goodness and power, and that gave Him courage. It gave Him assurance that He was not alone. As Jesus said in John 8:29, “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” The bravery and faith Jesus portrayed came from knowing that God was real, wise, and omnipotent, so He faithfully trusted that what He was doing was the right thing. His faith allowed Him to do the unimaginable. Even when hated, He willingly took the cross.

This courage is also shown in Hebrews 12:2, which says Jesus endured the cross, “scorning its shame,” because of the joy set before Him. This shows that even in suffering, Jesus continued forward with faith and purpose because He could see the bigger picture. In His pain, He remained persistent and faithful. In Luke 23:46, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” This kind of courage is what sets Him apart from the rest of the world. Jesus completely gave His life over to the Lord. He knew God had a great plan, and He trusted in that plan. There was joy for the faith of future generations, so that they may be saved. God brings unlimited fulfillment, and that is experienced when you give God your whole life. Jesus’s ability to have this joy in chaos, peace in affliction, and unwavering courage in terrifying times is what we should take note of. Jesus was the Son of the living God, yet He still humbled Himself before God, giving Him full control over His life. This meant being courageous in a time of fear. As it says in Philippians 2:7–8, “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross.” This humility and obedience show that Jesus’s courage did not come from pride or personal gain but from perfect faith in God.

All heroes are courageous, but not all heroes are perfect. Jesus was the perfect hero who set the perfect example of how to live out the faith. We all love a hero, but the only real hero that we need made the ultimate sacrifice. Because Jesus is the only hero with no imperfections, we can see how His courage differs from ours. He was perfectly consistent in His bravery and faith. Although He was afraid, He did not sin. This is expressed in Hebrews 4:15, which says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin.” God in the flesh made fear relatable and sympathetic, which gives us a guide and an example. When we read such verses, it’s to encourage us that this is obtainable and expected. While we are not perfect like Jesus, we now know what is expected of us here on Earth. We should notice that Jesus always upheld His faith and stood firmly on the truth. Many more times than not, we can be courageous one moment but then cowards the next. When things get too scary or uncomfortable, we are so quick to deny, back out, or run.

Peter was one of Jesus’s very own disciples; he was a God-fearing man and loved the Lord. At times, Peter was willing to fight for the Lord. For example, Matthew 26:51 says that Peter “stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.” But in this instance, there was no real threat to Peter himself, just to Jesus, someone he cared about. It’s easier to act when you know you’re not the one getting the heat. Doing the right thing when it’s relatively safe for you only shows comfort, while true bravery is when you do the right thing even if there is a great risk to yourself. It’s also a lot easier to be brave when you’re being watched than it is when you’re alone. When Jesus was away, and Peter’s own skin was threatened by the accusation that he was one of Jesus’s followers, Peter fell into this temptation. Matthew 26:72 says, “And again he denied it with an oath: ‘I do not know the man.’” When Peter felt threatened, endangered, and alone, he denied Jesus not once but three times.

Peter is a great example of how our courage is so short-lived, while Jesus remains constant despite His fear. Being a coward is easy, but standing up for the truth is hard. Unlike Peter, Jesus took the high road and consistently paved the way for His people in the years to come, so that we would be able to grasp what courage should look like. Jesus was tested, as in Matthew 4:3, which says, “And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’” Though He was famished, Jesus answered, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Later, Jesus faced mockery as well as temptation. This is demonstrated in John 18:33: “So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’” Through it all, Jesus stood firm in the faith, had wisdom, and above all, had courage. In John 18:37, He told Pilate calmly that He was a king and that “for this purpose I have come into the world — to bear witness to the truth.” Jesus was alone. He stood up for the truth alone. He was on the cross alone. Being alone is a fear many share and is what generally strips people of their courage. Many may have the desire to do the right thing, but they lack the courage to take action behind it. Jesus was not fearful in His loneliness because He knew that He was not truly alone. As He says in John 16:32, “I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” Jesus’s courage stands on faith. Imagine the courage we could all have if we truly relied on the fact that we knew that we were not alone.

Courage was Jesus’s identity. He is the definition of true courage; He showed repeatedly what courage looks like. By His trust and knowledge of the truth, He was able to show the greatest act of courage on the cross. There is no greater demonstration of courage than self-sacrifice, such as when a man steps in front of another to take a bullet or when firefighters run into a burning building. Such acts of courage and heroism for innocent people are praised, but the most profound example of all was done by Jesus. The people Jesus saved were not innocent. The people He died for deserved to be nailed to His cross. It was our own, personal sin that held Him there until it was accomplished. We deserved it. It is much harder to endure such pain for someone who you know deserves it, while you’ve done nothing wrong. Jesus knew the kind of death He was going to die; He knew what was coming, yet He still died for us.

We have, in fact, nothing to fear, for God has conquered all. Jesus knew He would face many trials, but it didn’t chase Him off. Jesus was no coward. He stayed until His Father’s will was fulfilled. He bled, He cried, He sweat blood from fear. In the midst of such agony, He proved His unwavering courage all the more. Jesus had all the power to say no and to change His path, but He had a faith like no other and persevered because of His knowledge of God’s goodness. His deeply rooted faith, submission, and humility allowed Him to have the courage to say the words “It is finished.” Jesus’s courage demonstrates that faith doesn’t eliminate fear but gives people the strength to act despite it. His example challenges us to pursue the same courage in our own lives.

For such a long time, I let fear dictate everything I did and didn’t do. I let it define me. It was who I was. If it scared me, then I didn’t do it. But it went much deeper for me than just choosing not to conquer my fears. It was me choosing my way instead of God’s. It was not a fulfilling life, and it left me feeling empty and defeated despite my comfort. That comfort kept me from getting closer to Jesus. Fear made me miss out on opportunities, whether it was for God or for others. My lack of courage kept me from doing the right thing.

While at times I still fight this battle, I have been more intentional in my relationship with Jesus. And the fear has slowly lost its grip on me. I have come to find that the path to destruction and the path to God aren’t what they seem. The path of destruction can seem comfortable in the moment, but it’s all temporary. The path that leads to eternal life is hard and looks daunting, but on the other side it is far more rewarding than anything on the path of destruction. There were many times I fell into the temptation of choosing my comfort over God’s will. I would ask for forgiveness only to make the same mistake later on. It felt like a cycle that would never end.

Yet during my high school years, I started to desire a real relationship with Jesus. That’s when I realized that I didn’t have to live like I was. I soon learned that I was being called out of the anxiety and fear that I had wallowed in for what felt like forever. If only we are willing to set aside our pride and doubts, God can do something amazing. Fear is a liar. Fear is a thief. Fear is normal in the fact that it helps keep us away from danger. But when fear keeps you from God’s will for your life, then it only separates you from God. And with God, we have no reason to be afraid. Once I learned this and started to live out what I had learned, it was absolutely freeing. I know that Jesus is always with me and that His way is always better. My faith in Him and His way gives me courage.

Olivia’s message defines courage through the example of Jesus. Courage is not the absence of fear, but a choice to trust and follow God in defiance of fear. Through His sacrifice and obedience, Jesus shows what it means to live with faith-driven courage. This calls us to consider whether we will listen to fear or trust God enough to act. 

—Eiralys Unzicker, class of ’27