PsalmMeet: THE VIRTUE OF COURAGE ( Kairos Global, May 2026, Issue 98 )

Our Daily Bread

PsalmMeet: THE VIRTUE OF COURAGE

Intro

Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS reflects on the virtue of courage through three beautiful Psalms.

Highlight

Through Psalms 20, 3 and 18, we are invited to rise in adversity, to trust before the battle and to conquer through God’s power. Courage, like all virtues, is not self-made; it is God-given and God-sustained. St Thomas Aquinas teaches, the principal act of courage is to endure and withstand dangers doggedly [resolutely] rather than to attack them.

Article

In every battle of life, the Lord is my strength!

Have courage, no matter what your crosses are. Let no obstacle deter you from proceeding with courage! These are the strong words of encouragement from St Mary MacKillop, the first Australian saint. 

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the firm trust that God stands with us in every trial. It is the strength to rise, to persevere and to remain steadfast even when everything within us tends to tremble. Courage is the steady conviction that God is our defender, our refuge and our victory.

The Psalms are filled with the cry of the human heart under pressure; yet also with unshakable confidence in God. They teach us that true courage is born not from our own strength, but from reliance on the Lord, who fights for us (Exodus 14:14)

Psalm 20 – Courage that trusts before the battle

Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God! (Psalm 20:7)

Psalm 20 is a prayer before conflict. Even before the outcome is known, the Psalmist expresses unwavering trust in God. Courage here is rooted in surrender; it entrusts the future entirely to God.

This Psalm teaches that true courage is formed in prayer, before the crisis even begins.

• Place your confidence in God, not in human strength or resources

• Pray with trust before taking any action

• Stand firm in faith, even when outcomes are uncertain

Psalm 3 – Courage that rises in adversity

But You, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head (Psalm 3:3).

Psalm 3 is the prayer of one surrounded by enemies, overwhelmed and outnumbered. Instead of collapsing in fear, the Psalmist rises with confidence in God’s protection. Courage here is not denial of danger, but a bold lifting of the head in trust.

This Psalm reminds us that courage begins when we shift our focus from threats to God’s shielding presence.

• Lift your heart to God when you feel surrounded by problems

• Refuse to let fear define your identity; God is your glory

• Rise each day trusting that God sustains and upholds you

Psalm 18 – Courage that conquers through God’s power

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge… By you I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall! (Psalm 18:2, 29)

Psalm 18 is a triumphant song of victory. The Psalmist proclaims that every success and every triumph come from God. Courage in the Lord is always dynamic – it advances, it fights and it overcomes – through divine strength.

We learn that courage is not passive endurance, but active reliance on God who equips us for battle.

• Recognise God as the source of your strength in every struggle

• Face challenges boldly, knowing that God empowers you beyond limits

• Celebrate victories with gratitude, acknowledging God’s hand

This month, let us specially practise the virtue of courage – courage that stands firm in the face of fear. It is choosing God again and again, even when the path is hard. St Jane Frances de Chantal (the patron saint of widows, parents separated from children, forgotten people, those who face in-law problems and loss of parents) reminds us to hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to Him.  

Through Psalms 20, 3 and 18, we are invited to rise in adversity, to trust before the battle and to conquer through God’s power. Courage, like all virtues, is not self-made; it is God-given and God-sustained. St Thomas Aquinas teaches, the principal act of courage is to endure and withstand dangers doggedly [resolutely] rather than to attack them.

May our life boldly proclaim: In every battle, the Lord is my Strength!

God Bless! Live Jesus!