THURSDAY

2 Timothy 1:7

• What fear do you need to give to God?

I’ve heard it reported many times that the number one fear in America is public speaking. It’s funny—as a pastor, I publicly speak on a weekly basis in some capacity. Sometimes it gives me anxiety, but overall, it’s manageable. Spiders, on the other hand, will throw me into a spiral and send me to the other side of the room at lightning speed. My husband hates snakes but is our household spider exterminator. My sister is afraid of the dark. My best friend can’t do heights. Everyone has their own set of fears.

There’s a saying I’ve heard float around in one of those self-help leadership books or on some cheesy Pinterest post: “Do it scared.” While I’m chronically snarky about these pithy little mantras, there’s truth in their words. Fear is fine—normal—but it’s when fear stops us from living our lives that it becomes truly limiting.

Perhaps, based on 2 Timothy 1:7, a synonymous saying could be “Go with the Spirit.” The Spirit emboldens us, 2 Timothy 1:7 says, and I believe that fear and courage sometimes coexist. So, do it scared, and go with the Spirit.