Tim Hawley: This is my command, be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua one nine. Fear as a way of showing up at the edge of every risk before every decision and every unknown. It's human to feel fear.
But two things can be true. We can feel afraid and also walk in courage. When God spoke these words to Joshua, it wasn't just a pep talk. It was a reminder of who was walking with him. Joshua wasn't stepping into the unknown alone and neither are you.
Think for a moment. What's the fear in front of you right now? It might be a conversation you've been avoiding, a decision that feels overwhelming, or just the anxiety of not knowing what's next. God doesn't shame you for feeling fear. He invites you to boldly trust him through it.
Take a deep breath. As you exhale, name your fear. Bring it into the light. Jesus is with you. He might not remove what's causing you fear, but he does offer you his presence.
And that changes everything. Because courage isn't the absence of fear. It's trusting God enough to move anyway. So take a step towards the challenge ahead of you. Then another, realize you're not walking into fear, you're walking despite it and with God who goes before you.
So here's your challenge this week. Don't wait for the fear to disappear. Decide to take one small step in courage, name it and then schedule time to do it. Pray asking the Lord to fill you with his strength to follow through and then trust him with the outcome. As you do repeat this truth.
I am not alone. God is with me. He goes before me. He fights for me and I will not let fear decide my steps. You got this.
Not because you're fearless, but because the one who is lives in you.