A few weeks ago, I started reading A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. (Yes, I know I’m like a decade and a half behind on popular books.) I’m loving it so far. One of my favorite exchanges in the book happens very early on, just after a 7-year-old Bran just witnessed his father behead a man for a crime.

“Robb says the man died bravely, but Jon says he was afraid.”
“What do you think?” his father asked.
Bran thought about it. “Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?”
“That is the only time a man can be brave,” his father told him.

There’s a misconception that bravery and courage are the absence of courage. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Bravery is being deathly afraid, and acting in spite of it.

We’ll never be without fear. But our bravery must look our fear in the face and, empowered by the Holy Spirit, act and change the world.