Face your Fears

Even I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NIV

The KJV version of this verse goes, "Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death." That's not a valley I want to walk through. I may be a black belt and can defend myself in a dark alley, but no thanks on the valley of death. But we are experiencing this human existence and along with it comes sorrow and want and evil. And let's be honest, although this verse offers promise of safekeeping, it's not a verse I really want to invoke because it means I'm going through (or will be going through) a dark time.

But this verse can actually help one at anytime, even when it's not the dark valley that we are going through. People experience a wide range of fears - some are so bad that they are classified as phobias. I have fears. I'd be lying if I said I didn't. But having courage is not the absence of fear. It's the recognition that something is more important than your fear. I may fear sparring at my upcoming testing. But I know that my next belt level is more important than that fear. So I put courage to practice and prepare to face that fear.

God provides us the tools to face our fear. He prepares us so that we are ready. He's not looking for us to be without fear - that would be asking a lot of a human. He's simply asking us to trust him and trust that he will give us the tools to face our fear or our darkest hour. I pray that day never comes. I also pray he'll give me the strength when it does.