She Is Strong and Courageous 30-Day DevotionalSample

Face Your Fears – Mary, Mother of Jesus

Mary is a good example of trusting God even in a challenging situation. Today’s devotional will help you take hold of God’s courage to face the difficult situations in your life – and trust God with the outcome.

“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.” (Matthew 1:18–19).

Pray: Lord, let your Word be a light unto my path. 

Observe: Fear can be a catalyst for stress and anxiety. It can be the adhesive that keeps our issues firmly attached, hindering our ability to heal.

When God created us, he created us with an awareness of our surroundings, with the ability to discern good from evil, safety from danger, and right from wrong. Healthy fears function as an internal alarm system. When we approach unsafe situations or consider making poor decisions, we are warned of potential danger.

Unhealthy fears, on the other hand, can paralyze us and keep us from making wise decisions. These fears overwhelm our emotions, foster irrational thoughts, and often keep us from experiencing the abundant life Christ wants for us.

The fear of man causes us to walk a path of deception and leads us into sin and away from God. The fear of God gives us wisdom and inspires us to turn away from sin and trust God.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, chose to face her fears the night the angel Gabriel appeared to her to announce she would deliver the Messiah. Mary was young, a virgin, and engaged to be married. 

Without a rock-solid faith in God and a determination to persevere through her circumstances, Mary likely would have crumbled in fear when she learned she would supernaturally conceive a child. But Scripture reveals she immediately yielded her life to God’s will saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (Luke 1:38).

Courageously face your fears by implementing the following steps:

1. Seek comfort in God’s presence (Psalm 23:4). 

2. Cling to scriptural truth (John 17:17). 

3. Consult godly counsel (Proverbs 12:15). 

4. Trust God with the outcome (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Interpret: Although God allows us to go through life experiences that are fearful, he calls us to face our fears by fully trusting him with our circumstances and future. 

Apply: Are you currently facing a fearful situation? Decide today to give your fears to God, ask him for guidance, and make a commitment to fully trust him with your direction and outcome. 

Pray: Father, you know my circumstances and the path that’s best for me to walk through this life journey. Give me unwavering courage to face my fears and allow me to completely trust you every step of the way.