Instead of Fear: What God Gives You When You Let Go of FearSample

Day 5: The Keys to the Kingdom

Hesitating at the locker room door, Landon felt a fleeting moment of fear as he considered all that was riding on this game.

His team, clearly the underdog, had fought their way to the playoffs but was now facing the reigning, undefeated state champs who hadn’t lost a game in two years. As a senior, this was Landon’s last high school football game. 

And the odds were it would be a crushing loss. 

But if they won … what a win that would be for his team, for his high school, and for himself! Likely it would be his key to open the door to college football. And on that positive thought, Landon stepped out and gave it all he had for the hope of glory.

Jesus’ band of disciples were underdogs. The fledgling faith they espoused in the Messiah would face off against the wrath of Jewish leadership, the Roman oppressors, and the rest of the world. There was plenty to be afraid of, but a whole lot more to gain: the hope of God’s glory.

Fear can keep you from stepping out in faith or sharing the truth of Jesus, because it’s easy to think about all that you could lose—friends, jobs, position, and more. But when you lay down that fear, God stands ready to demonstrate His power to open new doors in your life as He has for others throughout history. 

So step out of fear into faith, and pick up the keys to God’s kingdom! 

Things to Ponder:

• Have you or a favorite team won a game that people thought you would lose?
• What stops you from sharing your faith? Is there someone you know who needs Jesus?