“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

It is not easy to be courageous. It is not always easy to do what is right. And in today’s world, it is certainly not easy to be a man or woman of faith. We face challenges, big and small, every day. From a young age, we are taught to “stand up for what is right,” but the truth is, it can be hard.

Courage can be frightening, painful, and uncomfortable. But it can also be triumphant, inspiring, and redemptive. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that courage is necessary for every virtue because it gives us the strength to live virtuously, even when it is difficult.

Think of courage as the roots of a tree. Strong roots allow the branches to grow and the fruit to ripen. In the same way, we need courage in order to flourish. We must be willing to embrace discomfort and invite God into the journey with us. Comfort often keeps us where we are, but God does not call us to remain stagnant. He calls us to live magnanimously with greatness of heart.

Courage is not the absence of fear; it is choosing to move forward despite it. With our roots firmly planted in Christ, we can flourish even amid fear and uncertainty. Through the strength of Jesus and His courageous example, we can begin to live the abundant, magnanimous lives God desires for us.

Hemingway wrote that “Courage is grace under pressure.” Eddie Rickenbacker, the highly decorated flyer of the First World War, concluded: “Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.” Courage is also a vital quality in following Christ -an almost reckless trust in the Lord, which Our Lady calls “abandonment to God.”

Like any virtue, courage grows with practice. This month, look for small opportunities to be courageous. Face a challenge instead of putting it off. Stand up for what you believe, even when it is uncomfortable. Ask the Lord for courage when you are afraid. Small acts of courage strengthen our roots and prepare us for the larger challenges of life.

“To have courage for whatever comes in life – everything lies in that.” –  St. Teresa of Ávila