Monday Motivation on Bravery: Memorial Day Edition | May 26, 2025
On this special Monday Motivation Memorial Day Edition, we will explore bravery in the Bible and how God helps us with that. We will glean insight from the scriptures, teaching us how to remain fearless in the face of fearful things that come our way. Whether you’re working today or enjoying a day off, let these words encourage your spirit as you begin a new week!
Brave Benaiah
The first time I met the fearless warrior Benaiah from the Bible, I was astonished. He was one of King David’s mighty men who chased a lion into a cave on a snowy day and killed it. (1 Chronicles 11:22 NLT) Who does that? Most people would run from a lion. Not Benaiah. Wow! What bravery it must have taken to do that. I’ve heard that “bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.” I have been there. Have you? Throughout the Bible, the phrase “Fear not” is repeated numerous times. When we have God on our side, there is no reason for us to fear. (Romans 8:31)
Shepherd Boy Slays a Giant
In this well-known story from the Bible, we find a young 9-year-old shepherd boy named David taking on the giant Philistine, Goliath. You might expect this young man to be fearful. But he had more bravery than any of his brothers and the whole Israelite army. Why? David knew where his strength came from, and he knew the battle wasn’t his, but the Lord’s; he had confidence that the Lord would give him the victory over the giant. We can have this same confidence. First John 4:4 reminds us that God is in us, and He is greater than he who is in the world.
Daniel Takes a Nap with the Lions
Standing up for what you believe in isn’t always easy. In fact, for Daniel in the Bible, it was potentially life-ending. After Daniel’s enemies tricked King Darius, he issued a decree that would send anyone who prayed to anyone other than the king to the lion’s den. Daniel faithfully prayed three times a day to God, which made it easy for him to be spotted breaking the law. The king liked Daniel, so it made him sad to toss him to the lions. The next morning, the king rushed to check on Daniel to find out that God had shut the mouths of the lions and saved him. God promises us protection, too. (Psalm 91)
Final Thoughts
There are many more stories of bravery in the Bible – people like Moses, Esther, and Rahab, just to name a few. To be fearless, we must face our fears. But we never have to do it alone. God’s word is full of promises that we can cling to when we face fearful situations. Joshua 1:9 (NIRV) gives us confidence in this: “Here is what I am commanding you to do. Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.”
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the reminder that true bravery comes from trusting in you. On this Memorial Day, we honor those who were brave and made the ultimate sacrifice. We ask that you fill our hearts with the same fearless faith. Help us to be like Benaiah, running toward our challenges with boldness; like David, trusting You with our battles; and like Daniel, standing firm in our faith no matter the cost.
When fear creeps in, remind us that You are with us, and You are greater than anything we face. Please give us the strength and courage to continue to have bravery in the week ahead. We place our trust in you, our refuge and our mighty defender.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
