Secure Even When Scared
Deuteronomy 31:6 — Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
I recently stepped way out of my comfort zone. I let my 14-year-old nephew talk me into doing a ropes course. You know, the kind with obstacles suspended high in the trees—tightropes, swinging bridges, and shaky ladders that seem much farther off the ground once you’re standing on them.
You’re secured in a harness the entire time, always clipped to a safety cable that’s designed to keep you from falling. But your brain doesn’t care about that. Your brain is convinced you’re about to plummet to your death.
Even my nephew came to one section and said, “I can’t do it.”
I smiled and said, “Yes, you can. You can’t fall. That harness has you safe and secure.”
But there was no convincing his fear.
So I reassured him again. “Just focus on taking one step at a time. Put one foot in front of the other. Don’t listen to the fear.”
Then I reminded him of something even bigger than the obstacle in front of him: he wasn’t up there alone. I’d prayed for him before we ever climbed, and I knew God was with us.
I said, “That harness is holding you. And more importantly, God is with you. Just take the next step.”
And he did.
Watching him take that next step made me think about all the scary and uncertain things we face in life. We stand at the edge of a diagnosis, a difficult decision, a loss, or a new calling, and our minds immediately imagine all the ways we could fall.
But what if we remembered we’re held by Someone stronger than our fear?
Just like that harness never let go of my nephew, God never lets go of us. He says, “Be strong and courageous.” He promises, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
So whatever is in front of you today, don’t let fear make the decision. Take the next step. Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s choosing to trust the One who’s holding you.
Because you’re not walking alone.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- What “ropes course” are you facing right now that feels intimidating or uncertain?
- How does God’s promise to never leave or forsake you change the way you view that situation?
- What is one courageous next step you can take today, trusting that God is with you?
