24-09-2025 | 10 Minute Read
Be Strong and Courageous: The Courage to Be Yourself
Have you ever felt stuck in a place, relationship, job, or environment—knowing deep down that it was time to go, but feeling paralyzed by fear, guilt, or uncertainty? Maybe you told yourself it wasn’t “that bad.” Maybe you stayed because leaving felt too disruptive, or because you worried about what people might think. Yet somewhere inside, you knew: the longer you stayed, the more disconnected you felt from yourself.
Courage in these moments doesn’t always look bold or dramatic. Sometimes it looks like quiet boundaries. Sometimes it looks like reclaiming what is yours—your time, your energy, your peace. Sometimes it’s simply choosing yourself after years of putting everyone else first.
Sitting with Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
— Joshua 1:9
Joshua 1:9 is one of the most repeated verses in times of transition, uncertainty, and fear. But its context is powerful: Joshua was stepping into leadership after Moses, tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. He was entering uncharted territory, surrounded by uncertainty and resistance. And yet, God’s command wasn’t about strategy or certainty—it was about courage.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged…”
This is more than encouragement. It’s a command to root yourself not in the absence of fear, but in the presence of faith. Joshua was reminded that he wasn’t walking alone. Wherever he went, God would go with him.
When we think about courage in our own lives—whether leaving a toxic relationship, setting boundaries, or starting something new—the message is the same: fear is real, but so is the promise that you are not abandoned. Strength is not found in having it all figured out, but in trusting that step by step, you will be guided.
Leaving a relationship that neglected you, that made you feel invisible or taken for granted is scary. Leaving a work environment that didn’t value your contributions or presence is scary. Leaving anything you committed to, cherished, and poured yourself into is scary.
But courage doesn’t mean the fear disappears. Courage means you acknowledge the fear, and still choose to take the next step toward freedom, healing, and growth. Joshua was not promised a smooth path—he was promised God’s presence. In the same way, we are reminded that we don’t need certainty to move forward; we need trust.
Courage is not about “faking it till you make it.” It’s not about painting on a smile or putting on a mask just to get through the day. True courage is being transparent—allowing yourself to feel, even if that means letting a tear fall at work, or reaching out to family and friends for support.
Courage is the willingness to be real, to admit when you’re struggling, and to accept that we don’t have the power to control everything. In fact, it’s often in surrender—acknowledging our limits—that true strength emerges. When we stop trying to manage every outcome, we create space for faith, healing, and community to carry us through.
Walking with the Stoics
The Stoic philosopher Seneca once said, “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” Think about that for a moment. How often do the fears we carry about leaving—What if I fail? What if I’m judged? What if I regret it?—hold more weight in our minds than in real life?
Our imagination builds stories that feel so convincing we begin to live as though they’re already true. We replay worst-case scenarios, assume rejection before it even happens, and let doubt convince us that standing still is safer than moving forward. But the Stoics remind us: most of what we fear never actually comes to pass.
When we do step forward, we usually discover we’re far stronger and more resilient than fear led us to believe. Stoicism teaches us not to waste our energy on outcomes we cannot control, but to focus instead on what we can do: showing up with integrity, choosing honesty, and taking the next right step that aligns with who we are.
And at the heart of that is the courage to be ourselves. Especially when others attempt to narrate our stories, to control our choices, or to diminish us for the sake of making themselves look good or feel secure. The courage to be yourself will almost always be met with resistance—from people, from systems, even from your own inner critic. Yet Stoic wisdom teaches us that the actions of others are not ours to control. What we can control is our response: to stand firm, to stay truthful, and to keep walking in alignment with our values.
Joshua 1:9 and Stoic wisdom may come from different traditions, but they intersect beautifully. Faith assures us that we are never walking alone, while Stoicism grounds us in the reminder that courage is about action—moving forward in alignment with our values—rather than being consumed by “what ifs.” Together, they invite us to release imagined fears and to walk boldly, step by step, into what is real.
The Inner Work
Courage is not just a spiritual or philosophical idea—it’s deeply tied to our mental health. Staying in environments that no longer serve us can quietly drain us, distort our self-worth, and leave us feeling anxious, exhausted, or even depressed. Choosing courage, on the other hand, is often the very first step toward healing.
The courage to be yourself. Being authentic means honoring your values, your needs, and your limits. Sometimes that requires setting boundaries, protecting what’s yours—your voice, your energy, your peace—and choosing not to let others rewrite your story for their own comfort.
The courage to walk away. Leaving a harmful relationship, workplace, or environment is not weakness; it’s an act of self-respect. It’s declaring, “I deserve more than this,” even when the leaving feels terrifying.
The courage to create. Starting something new—whether it’s a business, a new chapter, or even a healthier routine—builds resilience and sparks hope. Purpose is fuel for mental well-being, reminding us that our lives can move in new directions.
Therapy often becomes the place where these forms of courage are nurtured. It’s where people can explore their fears, name what is no longer working, and build the strength to take the next step forward. Because courage doesn’t mean you won’t feel afraid or sad. It means you’ll move forward with those emotions, trusting that you are not walking alone, and that step by step, you are growing stronger.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, you know how heavy that space can feel. But courage doesn’t mean being fearless—it means allowing yourself to feel the fear, the sadness, and even the uncertainty, while still choosing to take the next step forward. Courage is being real with yourself, setting boundaries when others try to control your story, walking away when something no longer serves you, and creating space for new beginnings.
Joshua’s reminder grounds us: wherever you go, you are not alone. Seneca’s wisdom reinforces this: the fears in our imagination are often louder than reality. And the work of mental health reminds us that healing happens not in avoiding discomfort, but in practicing courage one decision at a time.
When we stop letting fear run the story—whether it’s the fear of leaving, the fear of judgment, or the fear of failing—we create space for peace, growth, and freedom. That is the inner work of courage: trusting that even in the unknown, you are guided, supported, and strong enough to begin again.
Think of an area in your life where you’ve felt stuck.
Think of an area in your life where you’ve felt stuck. What would it look like to set a boundary or reclaim what’s yours in that space?
What fears rise up when you imagine walking away or starting fresh?
Looking back at times you’ve taken a leap before, were the fears in your mind louder than what actually happened?
How might Joshua 1:9 speak into your current situation—what does it mean to know you are not walking alone?
In your own words, what does “being courageous” mean for you right now?
As you sit with these words, remember that healing doesn’t come all at once—it comes step by step, choice by choice, and moment by moment. May this reflection guide you toward courage in your own journey.