“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”. Joshua 1:9
I absolutely love looking back and seeing where God has brought everyone. As I look back in my own life, something that still gives me chills is considering all of the things that I never imagined I would do, yet God has used those situations as opportunities for growth and wisdom.
One thing I look back at is my fear of leading games in our youth ministry. It was never my favorite thing to do. Many questions would arise in my mind and create doubt: What if the game isn’t fun? What if someone gets hurt? What if I don’t explain the game well? What if I forget to set up a crucial part of the game? My mind would be filled with these questions to the point where my mentality was, “this is not for me”. I faced discouragement and fear due to a lack of experience and not wanting to step out of my comfort zone.
One Sunday night, as I prepared to lead the beginning of a fun series for our youth and a long relay race, due to anxiousness and worry over the games I began to struggle breathing! It took a few other leaders and a moment of prayer to bring a sense of peace and calm before we played. And what would you know… the students and leaders absolutely enjoyed themselves! As per usual, there were a few minor malfunctions, but overall, it was a great night that was nowhere near the expectations I placed on it. And further along, these skills helped increase my awareness and preparation as a leader in anything I would be a part of.
Imagine if all of us leaned into fear instead of God. Imagine if we never took steps of faith because of fear and discouragement. So often we want to remain in our comfort zone. But when we place our faith in Christ, those doubts, troubles, and situations help us grow in our relationship with Him. When we look back and reflect, we see that in obedience, God was with us where we have been, is with us where are, and will continue being with us wherever we go.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase”. What might that step be for you? Where is God calling you to embrace the strength and courage that He provides? What fears or discouragements is He calling us to face with faith in Him? God knows what the whole staircase looks like. Trust that He is with you, take steps out of your comfort zone, and embrace faith.
