Courage

Bravery doesn't come naturally. Nobody's born with it. We're born with fear, and fears are developed.
And bravery is not the same as being fearless. Is anybody really fearless? If you care about anything at all, don't you fear for it? Fear drags us back from whatever could come between us and the things we care about. It can protect us - and it can kill us.
Because we care about the wrong things. I care too much about my safety, so I'm afraid to walk on an old fencetop. I care too much about looking perfect, so I'm afraid to get up on that stage and risk failure. I care about whether I hurt someone, so I'm afraid to say anything.
Fear can be helpful. It can stop of from doing something foolish. But fear isn't a motivator. It's a paralyzer. Fear tells us what not to do.
Courage tells us what to do.
It's too easy to think, 'If only I wasn't afraid of the dark, then I'd be brave.'
'If only I wasn't afraid of dying, then I'd be brave.'
'If only I wasn't afraid of letting them down, I'd be brave.'
 But fear of dying tells us that we care about life. You can't care about something without the fear of losing it.
Bravery isn't fearing nothing. It's choosing to do what's right, regardless of what we fear. Fearlessness kills the dragon. Bravery leaps on its back and rides it.
So you're going to take up your sword, go out there, and save the day? Maybe that's not courage. Maybe you're hiding behind that sword. Put the weapon down. That's courage.
Fear and care, bravery and hope. They go hand in hand.
Yes, I'm afraid of sinning because I care about obeying God. But I'm not going to let it stop me  from facing each day, knowing I'm going to make mistakes. I have hope that he'll forgive me again and again, and that gives me courage.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. ~Proverbs 1:17