Hey my friend welcome to the latest edition of my newsletter, thanks for being here! If this blesses you, share it with someone who needs it. They can sign up free at thelowkeychristian.com/newsletter. God bless you, now let's get into it.
This week's theme: Fear.
This one might sting a bit. But I think you need to hear it. I know I did.
GOD NEVER SAID IT WOULDN'T BE SCARY
We've been talking about fear all week. And I think there's a hard truth hiding underneath everything we've covered so far that I've been dancing around.
Here it is: God never promised to take your fear away.
Read that again. Sit with the discomfort of it.
We pray "God, take this fear away." We beg for it. We fast for it. We claim victory over it. And sometimes He does remove it. But a lot of the time, He doesn't. And we take that as silence. Or punishment. Or proof that our faith isn't strong enough.
But what if God's plan was never to remove the fear? What if His plan was to walk through it with you?
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Look at that verse carefully. God says "do not be afraid." But He doesn't say "because I'll make sure nothing scary ever happens to you." He says "because I will be with you wherever you go."
Wherever you go. Not "wherever it's safe." Not "wherever it's comfortable." Wherever. Including the scary places. Including the uncertain places. Including the valley of the shadow of death places.
This is the part of faith that nobody puts on the motivational poster. Following God is not a path away from fear. It's often a path directly through it. Abraham left everything he knew. Moses confronted the most powerful ruler on earth. Joshua led a nation into enemy territory. David faced a giant. The disciples left their livelihoods to follow a man who told them they'd be persecuted.
None of that sounds comfortable. None of that sounds safe. All of it sounds terrifying.
And that's the point.
Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is obedience in the presence of fear. It's doing the thing God asked you to do while your hands are shaking and your voice is trembling and every part of your flesh is screaming at you to turn around.
If you've been waiting for the fear to go away before you step out, you might be waiting forever. God isn't waiting for you to feel brave. He's waiting for you to move anyway.
That conversation you need to have? Scary. Have it anyway.
That decision you've been putting off? Terrifying. Make it anyway.
That step of faith He's been nudging you toward? It doesn't feel safe. Take it anyway.
Because "I will be with you wherever you go" is not a maybe. It's a promise. From the God who has never once broken one.
The fear might not leave. But neither will He.
YOUR ONE THING FOR TODAY
What's the one thing you've been putting off because you're afraid? Name it. Now ask yourself honestly: am I waiting for the fear to leave before I act? If the answer is yes, today is the day you stop waiting. Take one small step toward it. Not the whole leap. Just one step. Send the message. Make the call. Write the application. Open the conversation. One step. God will meet you in it.
God, I've been waiting for the fear to disappear before I move. I'm realising now that maybe that's not how this works. Maybe courage isn't about feeling brave. Maybe it's about trusting You more than I trust my feelings. Today I'm choosing to step forward even though I'm scared. Go with me. Be with me wherever this takes me. I don't need to see the whole path. I just need to know You're on it with me. That's enough. Amen.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
This might be a good day to watch Fear vs Faith: The Spiritual Warfare For Your Soul. It goes deep on the battle between stepping out and staying stuck.
OVER TO YOU
What's the one step you've been putting off? Hit reply and tell me what it is. Sometimes just saying it to another person makes it real enough to actually do.
God bless you, my friend.
The LowKey Christian
If fear and anxiety have been constant companions lately, my eBook Faith Over Fear walks through 7 chapters of practical, biblical steps to calm an anxious heart. Grab it here: https://thelowkeychristian.com/ebook