Overcome Fear

September 22, 2024 by Mark Stalnaker

Fear blocks so many good things in our lives. It is time for you to overcome these fears and live the fullness of the life Jesus has given you.

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Joshua 1:9, I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do.” NET

Today, I’m going to talk about fear. You know, God told Joshua. In fact, at the bottom of the first chapter of Joshua, he says, “Look, I repeat, be strong, be brave, don’t be afraid, don’t panic. I’m the Lord your God, and I’ll be with you in all you do.”

Not the Absence of Fear

Now, we’re talking about fear. I’m not talking about the absence of fear. It’s always going to be there. 

Don’t think it won’t. Let’s be real, but you need to step out and then God will be with you. So, I like that at the bottom of the chapter, God repeated it again. 

He said, first, look, be strong, be brave, be courageous, and don’t fear and don’t panic. So, be strong and courageous in him first, and don’t fear or panic, right? So, it’s always a small thing that you need to step out on. It’s not a big thing. 

It is Not the Big Thing

You know, people think, oh, I need to do this great thing, and I’m so afraid. That’s not how you get there. You get there by small little steps, just like you’ve lived your life.

It is in the Moments

You know, it’s only a moment. A moment. You know, think about your life.

What are the most precious things to you? Is it days or accomplishments or years? No, when you think about things in your life, you think about those special moments. Your life is really made up of moments and that’s what we’re talking about here. Stepping out for a moment to do what you should do and to do those things that you fear to do. 

Don’t Wait for Fear to be Gone

Now, don’t wait for fear to be gone. That’s not what we’re doing. We’re not moving when fear is gone.

You are Overcoming

We’re overcoming fear. We’re stepping out in the middle of fear and trusting him to give us the strength and the boldness to do it. And it’s a small thing. 

It’s always a small thing. Even some of you right now listening to this know that little small thing, that little step that you need to take. You know, you’re hearing it inside now, and that’s great. 

And so you take that little moment, and you step out, and you do that little thing. Maybe you need to speak to somebody. Maybe you need to to overcome a fear of approaching somebody or saying something or doing that little thing that you fear.

You know, even making these videos when I started this, there was a fear. What would people think? But I had to take that moment, make a recording. And each step makes you stronger and each little step makes you bolder. 

What Matters is You Stepped Out 

And that’s how you overcome. So again, you take that step. Does it matter if you fail or succeed? No, it actually doesn’t. 

Those little steps will build you up and help you overcome that fear. Keep stepping, and it will build you up. 

The moments that you will remember in this will not be the successes. It will be the fact that you stepped out and that you overcame in those moments. And this will build your life. 

So, I’m going to continue this in the next few videos, but I just want you to think about that today. 

What is that little thing? Just step out and overcome in the moments. 

Amen.