It was just a phone call. One dial, one voice, one conversation. But my hand hovered over the screen, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. I knew what I needed to say, but the fear felt heavier than the phone itself. I had rehearsed the words, prayed for wisdom, waited for the right moment—and still, my breath caught every time I came close.
Why is it that when something truly matters, fear finds its voice first?
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
This verse wasn’t whispered to a man in comfort. It was spoken to Joshua on the edge of a formidable task—stepping into unknown territory, filling the shoes of Moses, leading a people toward uncertainty. His fear was justified. But God didn’t shame him for it. Instead, He named it. He saw the fear, and He answered with presence. “I am with you.”
Sometimes, courage doesn’t begin with confidence. Sometimes it begins with the quiet decision to show up anyway.
Our tradition includes a striking story about endless, impossible waters and one man walking into them. According to the Midrash, Nachshon ben Aminadav stepped into the Red Sea before it parted. Not because it made sense. Not because he felt brave. But because he trusted that God moves when we do. That faith doesn’t always come after we feel ready—but often because we aren’t.
Fear is painted as the enemy, but what if it’s not? What if fear is simply the sign that the next step matters deeply? When we long for connection, when we try something new, when we dare to be vulnerable or honest or hopeful again—fear shows up because we’re stretching something sacred inside us.
God never says, "You won’t feel fear." He says, “Do not be afraid.” It’s a command that recognizes fear will come, but reminds us not to let it lead.
I think of the moments I've waited for courage like it was something to arrive on its own. As if it were a package to be delivered, not a muscle to be moved. But God doesn’t promise to silence every fear. He promises His presence within it.
Isaiah 41:13 echoes it tenderly, “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’”
Maybe you’ve felt that too—that trembling hand before the call, the hesitation before the first step, the long pause before the words finally come out. We all have. And in those moments, courage isn’t winning the battle over fear—it’s choosing to move anyway, because trust can carry what strength alone cannot.
Sometimes we think we need to feel bold before we act. But the Psalmist reminds us, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You” (Psalm 56:3). Not after. In the fear. During the storm. While the waters rise. That’s where trust lives.
So whether it’s a difficult conversation, a new chapter, or a secret hope quietly waking up in you, know this: you don’t walk in alone. The One who calls you forward walks before you, beside you, within you. Courage doesn’t mean the fear disappears—it means you keep going even with it there.
Stepping forward with fear still in your chest is not weakness. It might be the bravest thing you will ever do.
—
Joshua 1:9 — “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Isaiah 41:13 — “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’”
Psalm 56:3 — “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 — “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Exodus 14:13 — “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today.”
Midrash, Exodus Rabbah 23:2 — The story of Nachshon stepping into the Red Sea before it parted; he walked in faith while fear still stood at the shore.
It was just a phone call. One dial, one voice, one conversation. But my hand hovered over the screen, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. I knew what I needed to say, but the fear felt heavier than the phone itself. I had rehearsed the words, prayed for wisdom, waited for the right moment—and still, my breath caught every time I came close.
Why is it that when something truly matters, fear finds its voice first?
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
This verse wasn’t whispered to a man in comfort. It was spoken to Joshua on the edge of a formidable task—stepping into unknown territory, filling the shoes of Moses, leading a people toward uncertainty. His fear was justified. But God didn’t shame him for it. Instead, He named it. He saw the fear, and He answered with presence. “I am with you.”
Sometimes, courage doesn’t begin with confidence. Sometimes it begins with the quiet decision to show up anyway.
Our tradition includes a striking story about endless, impossible waters and one man walking into them. According to the Midrash, Nachshon ben Aminadav stepped into the Red Sea before it parted. Not because it made sense. Not because he felt brave. But because he trusted that God moves when we do. That faith doesn’t always come after we feel ready—but often because we aren’t.
Fear is painted as the enemy, but what if it’s not? What if fear is simply the sign that the next step matters deeply? When we long for connection, when we try something new, when we dare to be vulnerable or honest or hopeful again—fear shows up because we’re stretching something sacred inside us.
God never says, "You won’t feel fear." He says, “Do not be afraid.” It’s a command that recognizes fear will come, but reminds us not to let it lead.
I think of the moments I've waited for courage like it was something to arrive on its own. As if it were a package to be delivered, not a muscle to be moved. But God doesn’t promise to silence every fear. He promises His presence within it.
Isaiah 41:13 echoes it tenderly, “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’”
Maybe you’ve felt that too—that trembling hand before the call, the hesitation before the first step, the long pause before the words finally come out. We all have. And in those moments, courage isn’t winning the battle over fear—it’s choosing to move anyway, because trust can carry what strength alone cannot.
Sometimes we think we need to feel bold before we act. But the Psalmist reminds us, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You” (Psalm 56:3). Not after. In the fear. During the storm. While the waters rise. That’s where trust lives.
So whether it’s a difficult conversation, a new chapter, or a secret hope quietly waking up in you, know this: you don’t walk in alone. The One who calls you forward walks before you, beside you, within you. Courage doesn’t mean the fear disappears—it means you keep going even with it there.
Stepping forward with fear still in your chest is not weakness. It might be the bravest thing you will ever do.
—
Joshua 1:9 — “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Isaiah 41:13 — “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’”
Psalm 56:3 — “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 — “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Exodus 14:13 — “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today.”
Midrash, Exodus Rabbah 23:2 — The story of Nachshon stepping into the Red Sea before it parted; he walked in faith while fear still stood at the shore.
