Courage Dearheart
There’s a word we don’t hear often enough: fortitude. The strength that enables a person to face danger or endure pain and adversity with courage. It’s a trait that anchors us when life gets rough. The word comes from the Latin fortis, meaning “strong,” and it’s closely related to “fortify”—to strengthen, secure, reinforce, whether in body, mind, or spirit.
This kind of courage plays out vividly in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis. In one of the story’s darkest moments, Lucy and the others are surrounded by a deep, unrelenting darkness. Despite being warned of this stretch of the journey, the reality of it is far more demoralizing than they imagined. Fear and discouragement set in. Lucy cries, “Aslan, if you ever loved us, send help now.” And help comes—not by removing the darkness, but by entering it. Aslan appears as an albatross and whispers to Lucy, “Courage, dear heart.” The darkness didn’t disappear, but her heart grew steadier.
We all face dark seasons when the weight of grief, hardship, or uncertainty presses in from all sides. Jesus didn’t shy away from warning us about this reality. In John 16:33, He says, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” Take heart. Be of good courage. Why? Because He is with us.
That promise echoes throughout Scripture:
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“Be strong and courageous… the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
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“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)
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“When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.” (Psalm 91:15)
God doesn’t always take us out of the valley, but always walks us through it. He is not distant or indifferent to our suffering. He is Emmanuel—God with us.
It’s also important to remember that these hard seasons don’t last forever. 1 Peter 1:6-7 reminds us that even though we may suffer “for a little while,” suffering refines our faith like fire purifies gold. Psalm 30:5 offers this hope: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” And 1 Peter 5:10-11 assures us that “after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you.”
Even the heroes of faith weren’t strangers to pain. Hebrews 11, often called the Hall of Faith, lists men and women who walked through difficulty, doubt, and fear. In Judges 6, Gideon cries out, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” God doesn’t rebuke him. Instead, He says, “Go in the strength you have.”
That’s often how courage looks—not like the absence of fear, but like moving forward in spite of it.
A wise pastor once said, “It’s always darkest before the dawn. The enemy fights hardest before the breakthrough.” Hold onto that. When the night feels endless, remember Aslan’s words: “Courage, dear heart.” You’re not alone. The light is coming.
Let’s pray:
Lord, give us strength when we feel weak. Give us peace in our storms. Remind us of Your presence when we feel alone. Help us walk through dark seasons with faith, knowing that You are with us and the dawn will come. Amen.
