A Fearful yet Courageous Christian

Fear. It's an emotion I know all too well as a Christian. Fear of unanswered questions. Fear of the unknown future. Fear of proclaiming my faith to others. There are many reasons I can feel afraid in my walk with God.

Yet the Bible repeatedly tells us "do not fear" and encourages finding courage in the Lord. This seems like a dichotomy at times. How can I hold fear and courage together? They appear to be opposites, one shrinking back and the other stepping forward.

But I'm realizing more and more that courage does not mean the absence of fear. True courage means feeling the full force of fear and yet deciding to move ahead anyway. It means trembling on the inside while boldly taking a stand on the outside. It means feeling weak in myself but showing up and doing what God asks of me regardless.

There are still many things that make me fearful as a Christian. Persecution, rejection, difficult life circumstances, loss. Fear seems inevitable. Yet with God's strength, I'm learning that a fearful heart and a courageous spirit can coincide. By leaning on Him for bravery, this fearful Christian can live and speak and love courageously. My human weakness allows God's power to shine even brighter. What freedom to know that He can work mightily through a cowardly hero like me!