Doing it Afraid

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" — Psalm 27:1 (NIV) 

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, fear doesn't completely disappear before we need to act. In these moments, we can learn from Elizabeth Elliot, whose husband, Jim, was murdered by the very people he was trying to reach with the Gospel. She shared about the four missionaries in Ecuador and how she was consumed and controlled by fear. Every time she began to step out, fear stopped her. Consumed by fear that paralyzed her from moving forward, she received life-changing advice from a friend: "Why don't you just do it afraid?" Fear wasn't completely removed from Elizabeth, but it no longer immobilized her.

Courage isn't the absence of fear but action in the presence of fear. As someone once said, "Courage is fear that has said its prayers." God doesn't always remove our fears before calling us to act. Sometimes, He wants us to exercise our faith by stepping out despite our trembling hearts. When we do, we discover His faithfulness in new ways.

When the Golden Gate Bridge was built, there were no safety nets underneath, and the construction progressed from one side to the other. The builders worked in fear, and a few unfortunately fell to their deaths in the water. This made the endeavor quite daunting, causing work to proceed slowly with many delays.

Eventually, the builders decided they needed a solution. They created a safety net underneath where the bridge was being built. As a result, work progressed at an incredible pace, and there were no further casualties. While some workers did fall, they landed safely on the net, which gave everyone confidence. They could focus on their work without the constant fear of falling.

We must recognize that we have a safety net too; His name is Jesus. For those of us who have placed our faith in Him, our eternal destiny is secured in heaven. So, what’s the worst that can happen when God asks us to take a step forward? We should be bold and take action.

Today, is there something God is calling you to do that frightens you? Instead of waiting for the fear to disappear completely, consider taking a step forward while still feeling afraid. Trust that God will be with you, providing the strength and courage you need in the moment. You don't have to wait until you feel brave. You just need to trust the God who is with you. Hebrews 13:5 says, "...For God has said, 'I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you.'"

Remember that we have the ultimate safety net in Christ. For believers, our eternal destiny is secure. As Billy Graham often said, "God and me are a majority." With God on our side, what do we truly have to fear?

Reflection Question: What is God calling you to do that you've been postponing until you "feel ready" or "aren't afraid anymore"?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to never leave or forsake me. Give me the courage to step out in faith even when I still feel afraid. Help me trust Your presence more than my feelings. Use my obedience, even when it's trembling obedience, to accomplish Your purposes. In Jesus' name, amen.

From "God's Answer for Fear": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/cr3n4pv/6-god-s-answer-for-fear