Arise!: How to Get Back Up When Life Has Knocked You Down. A 5-Day Plan With Jacques McNeilSample

Courage, Arise!

Fear is a natural part of our human experience and daily we are bombarded with stories, and images that could leave us immobilized and afraid to leave home.

We are constantly faced with the choice to allow fear to consume us or to feel the fear and take action anyway.

The fear/faith paradox came alive for me and our daughter one morning at 2 a.m. Our daughter, who was about three years old at the time, was afraid to go to the bathroom alone. What’s interesting about this story is she walked past the bathroom to come to our bedroom to announce she was afraid to go to the bathroom.

As she came into our bedroom, I was immediately awakened. I asked if everything was ok? She was in tears and kept repeating that she was afraid to go to the bathroom alone.

To provide a little context, she attended a Christian daycare, and they taught the children scripture through songs. A song/scripture that she recently learned was, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” We sang it in the car when I picked her up and throughout our home.

Faith and courage are contagious, and so are fear and anxiety. Though it was early in the morning, I saw it as a chance to teach her how to apply the scripture we had been singing. I believed this would position her for courage to arise, that night as well as in the future.

I immediately began encouraging her and then I said, let’s sing, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” I said, “baby girl, you can do this” and we continued singing. Slowly she turned around and she began to take baby steps, as she sang with tears streaming down her cheeks. With each step as she approached the bathroom, I could hear fear dissipating.

A few minutes later, she came back into our room, fully empowered. She jumped in the air, threw her fist up and said, “Yes, I did it!”

In the words of Nelson Mandela, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”

That day she triumphed over fear. To date, she was never afraid to go to the bathroom alone.

I am certain the things you are facing are not as elementary, but the principles are the same, regardless of your age.

Pause for a moment and pinpoint one area where fear has a hold on you. Whether it’s a fear of failure, heights, or public speaking, I want to challenge your perspective on it and on yourself.

As you take one baby step toward the thing you fear, try singing or declaring the scriptures, such as:

• Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
• Psalm 118:6 (NLT) “The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

My friend, you can do this! With each step forward, watch fear disperse, and courage arise!

Declaration: I declare that from this day forward, fear will no longer hinder, frustrate, or immobilize me. I will triumph over it! I am filled with incredible courage because the Lord is by my side, promising His help.