THE JOYFUL LIFE
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • HEART
      • Faith
      • Bible Study & Theology
      • Marriage
      • Motherhood
        • Motherhood (ALL)
        • Parenting Toddlers to Tweens
        • Parenting Teens
        • Parenting Adult Children
        • Raising Boys
        • Raising Girls
      • Divorce | Single Motherhood | Blended Families
      • Adoption & Foster Care
      • Infertility & Miscarriage
      • Friendship & Community
    • HOME
      • DIY Projects
      • Family & Home Management
      • Fun for Kids
      • Homemaking
      • Homeschool
      • Hospitality
      • Recipes
    • LIFE ISSUES
      • Anxiety
      • Difficult Family Dynamics
      • Emotions
      • Health
      • Identity & Purpose
      • Loss | Suffering | Grief
      • Work & Life Balance
    • REVIEWS
      • App Reviews
      • Book Reviews
      • Product Reviews
    • FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • SEASONAL & HOLIDAY
  • Daily Devotions
  • About
    • Meet the Team
      • Management & Staff
      • Editorial Team
      • Blog Contributors
      • Devotion Writers
      • Photographers
    • Statement of Faith
  • Work with Us
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise
    • Employment
  • Contact
  • account
The Joyful Life News
Sign up to receive Joyful Life Community news, weekly blog post updates, shop announcements, and more.
A QUARTERLY COLLECTIBLE | Heart & Home Inspiration
THE JOYFUL LIFE
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • HEART
      • Faith
      • Bible Study & Theology
      • Marriage
      • Motherhood
        • Motherhood (ALL)
        • Parenting Toddlers to Tweens
        • Parenting Teens
        • Parenting Adult Children
        • Raising Boys
        • Raising Girls
      • Divorce | Single Motherhood | Blended Families
      • Adoption & Foster Care
      • Infertility & Miscarriage
      • Friendship & Community
    • HOME
      • DIY Projects
      • Family & Home Management
      • Fun for Kids
      • Homemaking
      • Homeschool
      • Hospitality
      • Recipes
    • LIFE ISSUES
      • Anxiety
      • Difficult Family Dynamics
      • Emotions
      • Health
      • Identity & Purpose
      • Loss | Suffering | Grief
      • Work & Life Balance
    • REVIEWS
      • App Reviews
      • Book Reviews
      • Product Reviews
    • FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • SEASONAL & HOLIDAY
  • Daily Devotions
  • About
    • Meet the Team
      • Management & Staff
      • Editorial Team
      • Blog Contributors
      • Devotion Writers
      • Photographers
    • Statement of Faith
  • Work with Us
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise
    • Employment
  • Contact
  • account
0

Overcoming Fear With Courage

  • Ginger McPherson
  • September 15, 2022
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

The pool slide at our local YMCA became the crowning symbol of success for my swim-learning children this past summer. Going down that tall, coiling, tube-shaped slide meant victory. To go down, after all, required first swimming the entire length of the pool on their own.

On our last day of summer break, my daughter finally accomplished this feat. She proudly displayed her well-earned bracelet that told the lifeguards she was skilled enough to safely go down the slide. She squealed with delight climbing each concrete step. But when she got to the top, she froze. The height was too high, the slide too scary.

I began to cheer her on from below. I shouted her name and cheered some more. The moms next to me saw what was happening and began to cheer her on too. The lifeguards started to cheer. Then the entire group—all those who’d come to the pool that day—began chanting my daughter’s name until she took that final step and let courage overcome her fear. Down she went all the way to the bottom.

It was a magical moment, to say the least.

As I think about it now, I’m reminded of Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Whether you know it or not, you also have a cheering section. Whether you feel it or not, there are faithful followers of Jesus who understand what it’s like to be afraid, to be anxious, to worry. Their courageous lives outlined in Scripture can propel us forward if we’re just willing to read God’s Word and listen.

Fear may be a big part of being human, but so is courage. Which one will you choose to embrace today?

0
0
0
0
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
Ginger McPherson

Ginger McPherson is a writer, Bible teacher, and pastor’s wife in Oklahoma who traded her busy life as a college professor for a spaghetti-stained apron and the full-time role of stay-at-home mom for her three littles (7, 5, and 3). When she’s not trying out a new recipe or attempting to grow vegetables in her modest suburban backyard, you can find her scribbling down words, one at a time wherever she can. Her passion and prayer are for God to use those words to encourage others by filling them with His hope, faith, and immeasurable grace. To read more, check out her website at glmcpherson.com or follow her on Instagram.

1 comment
  1. Cyndi says:
    September 15, 2022 at 4:41 am

    My heart needed these words today – thank you!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

VISIT OUR SHOP
  • Issue 17 | REJOICE — Digital Version $14.00
  • HOPE, OUR ANCHOR | Digital Bible Study $12.00
  • THE GOOD SHEPHERD | Digital Bible Study
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $12.00
Follow Us on Instagram
The Joyful Life News
Sign up to receive Joyful Life Community news, weekly blog post updates, shop announcements, and exclusive offers for our subscribers.

AMAZON AFFILIATE PROGRAM DISCLAIMER | The Joyful Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Every purchase you make through our Amazon affiliate links supports our ministry at no additional cost to you.

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • WRITE FOR US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms
  • ACCOUNT
  • Contact
© 2022 The Joyful Life Co., LLC
Site Design by Maize Agency

Input your search keywords and press Enter.