Facing Fear & Finding Joy

Fear is a funny thing. Some things scare us, but we push through. Other things? Nope. Hard pass.

For example, I can stand in front of a church and preach without hesitation. But karaoke? Absolutely not. No way, no how. You will not find me holding a mic and singing in front of strangers. But my kids? Oh, they’re brave.

We went out to eat while my in-laws were in town for my daughter’s birthday, and the restaurant had a karaoke night. My son got excited and asked if he could sign up. I said sure. His little sister, not about to be left out, signed up too.

But then, as the moment got closer, my son started getting nervous. He wasn’t so sure anymore. That fear started creeping in. And I had a choice—let him back out, or encourage him to push through.

I knew he’d have fun if he went for it, so I gave him a little push. And sure enough, both he and his sister got up there, sang their little hearts out, and had a blast.

Fear almost stole that moment from them.

How often does that happen in life? How many times do we let fear talk us out of something before we even try? Maybe it's fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of stepping into something new. But if we let fear lead, we’ll miss out on so much of what God has for us.

In Joshua 1:9, God tells Joshua, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua had every reason to be afraid—he was about to lead an entire nation into the Promised Land. But God reminded him that courage doesn’t come from us—it comes from knowing who is with us.

The enemy loves to use fear to keep us from stepping into what God has called us to. He wants us to hesitate, to doubt, to back out before we even start. But God calls us to be strong and courageous. Not because we won’t feel afraid, but because He is with us.

So maybe there’s something you’ve been avoiding out of fear. Maybe God’s been nudging you to take a step of faith, but you’ve been hesitant. Let me encourage you—go for it. Push through. Because on the other side of that fear? There’s joy, growth, and maybe even a really great karaoke performance.

God’s got you. Be strong. Be courageous. And if you ever catch me at a karaoke night? Just know I’ll be cheering from the sidelines.