When Fear Has You Frozen, Do it Afraid

Courage is not the lack of fear; it's moving forward despite the fear.When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3One of the scariest things you will ever do is get in the passenger seat of your car while your 15-year-old gets in behind the wheel to drive for the first time. I think my daughter and I were equally afraid. Yet, I heard myself tell her, "sometimes you just gotta do it afraid."Fear can be paralyzing for sure, but we can trust that if God has asked us to move forward he is with us every step. I have never been more challenged to trust God than since I began parenting teenagers. It's the letting go that scares me, yet it's in the letting go where my kids really grow. Nothing can grow inside a tight grip.When we are standing on a precipice unsure of our footing, it's then that we learn to trust and just take the next step afraid. As we keep moving, as we keep trusting, God's spirit overtakes the fear. Before long, we could walk the path blindfolded.The first step is the hard one.Maybe you are frozen, fear holding your feet to the ground, but God is up ahead motioning for you to come join him on an adventure. Or you could be facing a dark path, a difficult challenge and God is standing behind you assuring you that when you fall, he will be there to help you get back on your feet.What are you afraid of? Change. Sickness. A new relationship. Moving. Letting your teenager go. Missions. A recent calling from God. An empty nest. Unemployment. Retirement. Grief. Opening up in counseling.Whatever is ahead, know that God is already there. My daughter, palms sweating while her mother gripped the seat, finally pulled the car out of the driveway and headed down the street. The first few curves were a little hairy, but we made it. One day, she will drive away without me, but she won't be alone.The deeper our trust becomes in our God, the smaller our fears become. He is good and worthy of our trust. When our path is rocky, he is there to steady us. When the way is dark, he will be our light.Praying for you as you take that first step.