Focused, Purposeful, Bold a 5-Day Plan by Candace GraySample

Do It Afraid!

How many times have you had a great desire to do something meaningful only to talk yourself out of it? How many ideas have fallen by the wayside because of fear? Writing is one area for me where I’m plagued by fear of inadequacy. I have half-written books that have never seen the light of day. My first attempted writing project was over 20 years ago. (20 years?! - I know, right!!!). The turning point for me was deciding to do it afraid.

In Joshua 1:6-9, God speaks to Joshua, and He repeats the phrase, “be strong and courageous” three separate times in the passage. In verse 9, He says, “have I not commanded you?” It’s as if He is grabbing Joshua by the shoulders and looking him in the eye. Joshua must have been feeling very afraid.

To be fair, Joshua had good reason to be afraid. He was given an assignment that would impact generations of people. He was leading the people to their destiny of a long-awaited promise. He also knew that he would face fierce opposition. Furthermore, he was succeeding Moses, and it’s never easy following in the footsteps of a longtime, successful leader. Ultimately, Joshua chose to move forward with courage in the face of fear. God had gone before him, and he had God’s promise to be with him along the way. Joshua’s strength was rooted in God’s power, and his courage came from his confidence in God. We can have the same assurance. We can be strong and courageous because God has promised to never leave nor forsake us. He goes before us whenever we seek to live purposefully in His name.

You may have the desire to take a big step this year. Will you decide to do it afraid, make room for imperfection, and leave the results in the hands of God? Will you embrace the growth that comes from doing it afraid?

Questions for Reflection

• When has fear held you back from pursuing a purposeful goal?
• In what areas of your life is God calling you to move forward with strength and courage?