Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything [with] the One who makes me who I am. Philippians 4:13 MSG

What do you fear? If you’re anything like me, fear of heights would surely make the list. Or maybe for you it’s snakes or spiders. Perhaps you shy away from meeting new people or avoid public speaking. (That one appeared on just about every list I found.) Maybe your nemesis is violent storms or being trapped in a situation with no visible means of escape. Another “favorite” of mine is being in enclosed spaces or in large crowds. Whatever your specific fear or fears may be, we all have them, and we can probably agree that we would like to be rid of them. We can either travel through life in a cocoon that doesn’t allow us to experience living as we were intended, or we can find a way to overcome our personal fears. Now, I am no expert in this field of endeavor, but I do know that if I can’t completely overcome my fears, at least I need to learn how to manage them.

Whatever your fear, find a way to face it. Fear taunts and tries to intimidate us.

But when our hearts are established in the freedom God had given us,

we can laugh at the fear of the future.

Sadie Robertson Huff, Live On Purpose

I recall a young girl who wanted to swim but whose parents didn’t have the resources for lessons. All my friends could swim, but I was always left on the side of the pool alone. One day, I became so frustrated at being left out that I made the decision to do something about it. My method may not have been the best choice, but I reasoned that if I jumped into the deep end of the pool, I’d either sink or find my way back to safety. Worst-case scenario, the lifeguard would haul me out and give me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Bear in mind, he was pretty easy on the eyes. So, I took a deep breath and jumped. I resurfaced and swung my arms about rather wildly, kicked my feet, and made it to the ladder without having to be rescued. As it turned out, my body floats very well, and I’ve been able to enjoy many hours in very deep water without fear of going under. My swim strokes will never get me to the Olympics, and I’m not graceful in the water, but I can get just about anywhere I want to go.

I don’t suggest that everyone try to learn to swim by my method, but I think the metaphor of not waiting for fear to subside, but instead to jump right in, can serve us well in many situations. We don’t know whether we will succeed or fail at any new thing we try, but we do know that we won’t find out unless we take the first step. Since that day, the twelve-year-old me jumped into the pool, I’ve accomplished a few other feats that have taught me not to give up because of fear. I’ve climbed a couple of very tall lighthouses, walked across the bridge at Royal Gorge, and hiked many trails where snakes and other hazards might have been present. And I still have a healthy respect for heights and snakes and closed-in rooms, but with the help of the faith I have that Jesus will walk with me through those scary places, I’ve enjoyed a lot of adventures that otherwise would never have been possible. And I still believe that a prudent amount of fear can keep us on the right track in life choices as well.

Fear should not paralyze us, but it should act as our conscience when tricky decisions must be made or when temptations come calling. Jesus will always lead us on the right path if we let him.

Don’t let fear have the final say in your life. Don’t even give it a vote!

Sadie Robertson Huff, Live On Purpose

And, by the way, we should not allow our fears, whatever they may be, to interfere with the plan God has for our lives. If that trail leads us beyond our comfort zone, it’s time to place our faith and confidence in the one true light who will always set us on the right path and help us to reach the finish line.

Being free from fear doesn’t mean that we will never experience it or be confronted by it. It means that we are committed to not allowing it to rule our lives, and when necessary, we will do what we need to do, even if we have to do it afraid.

Joyce Meyer, Quiet Times with God