Courage When You Are Afraid
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
There is a lie about courage that costs people years — the idea that brave people are not afraid. They are. Every one of them. What makes them brave is not the absence of fear but what they do while it is still there.
Read the promise again slowly and you will see God never says the frightening thing is not frightening. He does not argue with your fear. He simply stands closer. I am with you. I will strengthen you. I will uphold you. Three promises, all of them about His nearness, none of them about the danger going away.
That is what changes. Not the size of what you are facing — the size of who is facing it with you.
You may still be afraid tomorrow morning. Go anyway. Fear is allowed to come along; it simply does not get to drive.
A Prayer for Today
Lord, I am afraid, and I am going anyway. Walk close to me today. Hold me up where I am weak. Amen.
