A few of us were making small talk in a church van rolling along a Florida highway. Amber’s eyes lit up when Kayla mentioned a musical she was in. She talked about her own experience with nerve-wracking auditions. What caught me by surprise was when Amber said, “I auditioned because I was afraid to be in front of that many people.”

She must have seen the confusion in my eyes. Why would you audition for a play if you didn’t want to be in front of people? Amber pushed the dark-rimmed glasses up on her nose and continued, “I felt like I needed to audition because I was afraid of doing something like that. It was time to get over that fear. I knew I needed to lean on God’s strength and overcome it, and I did. In the end, it didn’t even matter if I did or didn’t get the part.”

In the short time I’d known Amber (about 30 minutes at that point of the conversation), I thought I had her pegged. I thought Amber was your typical pretty, confident, artsy college girl. Little did I know she also had a knack for stage fright.

Amber was also ridiculously brave.

Finding My Way Through Fear and Faith
The longer I walk with God, the more I’m learning that at some point, fear and faith always collide. Instead of being ridiculously brave and leaning on God’s strength (like Amber), I have a tendency to let the fear of rejection, failure and heartbreak keep me from some amazing opportunities. Crazier still, some of the things we’re most afraid of really aren’t that big in the grand scheme of things. See if any of these fears ring a bell:

I’m afraid that if I go up and talk to that group of people they won’t like me, so I’ll just stay back here.

I don’t think someone like me is really “missions material.” Plus, I know I can’t find that much money, so I shouldn’t even try.

I’m afraid I’ll never meet the right guy.

I’m afraid he’ll leave me if I don’t do this.

I’m afraid I’ll lose these friends if I don’t go to this place with them.

I’m afraid I’ll offend someone if I talk about what God means to me.

I’m afraid if I move that far away to attend college, I’ll fail. Then I’ll come back home and look like an idiot.

And there are plenty of really intense fears that can leave us feeling completely defeated; we face disease, sickness, separation and loss, head-on sometimes.

Fear is a giant.

A Few Little Rocks
Before King David was royalty, he was a poet, a shepherd and a troubadour for King Saul. In fact he was just taking his brothers some lunch when he heard Goliath taunt the Israelites. Nine feet tall and a vile warrior for years, Goliath seemed to be undefeatable.

At least that’s what the Israelites thought.

Of all the brave soldiers standing around that day, David, who was mostly into playing music and watching the sheep, was the only one brave enough to step up and challenge the Philistine bully. When Goliath tells David he’s going to make bird food out of him, David replies just as surely with these words: “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s and he will give all of you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:47).

Confidence like that comes from knowing that the God we serve is so much bigger than the giants we face.

All You Are
One of my favorite parts of this story is actually the moment before the face-off. In 1 Samuel 17:39-40, David takes off the heavy armor that is way too big for him and picks up his shepherd staff. In the end, he decides what matters isn’t how brave he looks or how intimidating he seems; what matters is that the God he serves is bigger than any evil giant.

Armed with only a slingshot and a pocketful of rocks David faced Goliath just as he was—just a shepherd, just a songwriter, just Eliab’s little brother. He probably didn’t look the biggest or the bravest, but instead of thinking about everything he wasn’t, he leaned on the strength of the God who always is. One rock later and Goliath was history.

In my opinion, David was ridiculously brave.

Little Steps of Faith
I don’t know if the fear of rejection, failure, fear or heartbreak ever keeps you from sleeping at night or threads through your thoughts. It’s sad to look back and think about the times fear has kept me from following the Lord. He wouldn’t have put so much about fear and anxiety in His Word if they weren’t a big issue. Most of His bravest heroes didn’t start out brave. Most of them didn’t see a clear end in site. They didn’t get the full picture when they faced giants, encountered the enemy, made hard decisions, lost their dearest friends and set out on journeys. But somehow in their trembling hearts, they did know He had already conquered the world.

When fear happens, trust that He’s going to carry you through to victory. Sometimes little steps of faith lead to a beautiful adventure you never saw coming.

Philippians 4:6 tells us to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Whatever matters to you matters to Him.

Regardless of how big or small your worries or how anxious you are, take God up on His invitation for peace that transcends all understanding. No matter what (or who) intimidates you, God is bigger. No matter how huge the decision, He’s huger (my own word!). I have no idea about the specific battles you’re facing, but I know you aren’t alone.

You may be one ordinary girl with a heart full of dreams and a pocketful of rocks, but with Christ in you, that’s enough.

This school year, let’s make a big impact for Christ. Let’s allow His love to shine through everything we do and every decision we make.

Let’s be ridiculously brave.