“Be strong and take heart.” What exactly does that mean? Physically strong? Emotionally strong? Mentally strong? Take heart? How do you “take heart”?Other translations of this verse use the word “courage.” “Be strong and courageous” is frequently used. “Take heart” means taking the strength of your heart and doing something with it. When you have a strong heart, you have something to stand on. When you can care, trust, be open and vulnerable yet steadfast, you can take your heart, stand on it, and rise up to any challenge. Courage comes from the heart, not come from the head.Courage frequently requires the willingness to take risks. When your heart is strong and courage comes, you are willing to take risks for the Kingdom. We can fight lions, tigers, and bears when we know there is a safe place to go to at the end of the battle and that God is fighting our battles with us. Being strong and courageous means we can take our heart and engage in the world. We may not know where He will lead us; but that’s okay, we can risk it with God at our side.