Today’s article is part of our summer series, “Be of Good Courage.”

I work in a nursing home, often trying to get the residents to walk as part of their physical therapy. 

Occasionally, someone will have a heaping overabundance of fear. Fear causes people to do ill-advised things. A fearful person may try to let go of their walker and lean too far to one side to reach out for a handrail on the wall. Or maybe a person will try to start sitting prior to being an appropriate distance from where they intend to sit. Either of these situations can result in a fall. And, often, a fall results in injuries. 

You’ve probably heard the phrase “paralyzed by fear.” Fear paralyzes the person’s thinking, and they try something they know they shouldn’t

What causes you to fear? Go ahead and think about those fear-causing things for one minute. (Only one minute, then stop.) 

Fear of rejection…

Fear of failure…

Fear of the unknown…

Maybe you’re reaching too far outside of your base of support, causing a fall. Maybe you’re trying to tackle something (that fear-causing something) without first consulting the Lord. 

Peter had a situation like that. He got a view of the Lord, and he had courage to step out of the boat and walk on the water. But once he started looking at the fear-causing things (the waves, the depths) he started to sink. 

That was ill-advised. Proceeding without the Lord may cause injury! 

Be courageous enough to look past the fear and look to the Lord. 

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.