"Do It Afraid!"

Making changes and facing challenges often brings thoughts of fear. Can I really do this? What if I fail? What will others think?

Sometimes when I face a change or challenge--like when I confront someone, change jobs, or re-evaluate priorities and commitments--I feel paralyzed with fear. Then, I spend more of my energy dreading the inevitable than actually "doing it."

In college, fear often overwhelmed me at the beginning of a new semester or when I faced a deadline or test. I would think, How can I possibly do all this in just a few weeks or days? How can I remember all those details? 

But I found success as I took each assignment or test one at a time. And then, when the next test, assignment, or semester rolled around, and fear attempted to paralyze me again, I'd remind myself of my previous victories.

As I face each new challenge in the future, I pray that I'll remember to "do it afraid." I've decided not to allow the voice of fear to keep me from going forward in my life--I'm choosing to walk by faith, not by fear.