From Fear to CourageSample

"I know that God is with me, but I am still afraid."

These words from my 5-year-old son echo what many of us feel in our spiritual journey. He stood at the bottom of our dark staircase, knowing the truth of God's presence but still battling fear. This moment perfectly captures where many of us find ourselves—knowing God's truth but struggling to walk in it.

What happened next revealed a beautiful picture of how God works in our lives. I said to him, "What if daddy meets you at the top of the stairs while I stay here at the bottom?" His face lit up, and after hearing his father's footsteps above, he ran through the darkness into his father's waiting arms.

This is the progression God wants us to understand:

• First comes the fear (the dark staircase)
• Then comes the comfort (knowing someone is with us)
• Finally comes the courage (running through the dark)

Notice that the darkness didn't disappear. The stairs didn't become easier to climb. The circumstances didn't change—but my son did. This is what Paul meant when he wrote, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV).

Just as my son had comfort at both ends of his journey, we have a heavenly Father who surrounds us with His comfort and presence. The Holy Spirit comforts us below, while Jesus awaits us above. This complete embrace gives us the courage to run through whatever darkness we face.

Think about where we started this devotional—with a baby receiving comfort in their first moments of fear. Now we see the full picture: that initial comfort is meant to grow into bold courage. Every time God comforts us, He's not just soothing our fears; He's building our courage for the next challenge.

Isaiah understood this when he wrote, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV). This is the ultimate progression from fear to comfort to courage—not just surviving our fears, but soaring above them.

Remember: Fear may be our first experience in this world, but it doesn't have to be our defining experience. Through God's comfort, we can develop a courage that doesn't deny the presence of fear but defeats its power over us. As John reminds us, "Perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18, NKJV).

Today, let's not just evict fear and receive comfort—let's allow that comfort to transform into God-given courage, knowing that He surrounds us completely in our journey.

If you enjoyed this reading plan by Rachel G. Scott, you'll love the complementary guided journal she created called, Where to GROW from Here?:A 14-day guided journal to help you grow in your walk with God.Grab your copyHERE.