“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
It was a chance meeting. Quite unexpectedly. I was worried about several things as I entered the line to check my heavy bag. Was I supposed to go to the kiosk first? I did anyway, but that took time and now more people were ahead of me to check their luggage with the airline. The line wasn’t moving quickly. Would I have enough time to get to the gate?
On my way from Bari to Pisa, connecting in Rome, I was in the second week of a two-month trip. Although some of the time I would be traveling with family, friends, and groups, there would be times, like this, where I was on my own. The prospect felt at best a bit daunting, and at worst, downright scary.
Cutting across my apprehensive thoughts, I heard her voice behind me. In her lilting accent, she voiced some of my own thoughts about the slow-moving line. Quickly, the conversation turned to politics and then to other topics. Finally checking our bags, we said good-bye and headed toward Security. God wasn’t done with us yet. Seeing her again on the way to the gate, we picked up our conversation as we waited, first at the gate, and then on the tarmac as the bus took us to the plane. In the course of thirty or so minutes, I realized we had both suffered similar losses: losing both parents, a brother, and marriages that ended in divorce.
Perhaps surviving similar rough times makes for kindred spirits. At any rate, I’m sure she had no idea how profound her words were to me. Words that had echoed in my own heart for some time now found audible expression. Her succinct words, “You only have one life to live”, captured my thoughts perfectly as I embarked on a new adventure, one that would take me down paths I never would have gone before. “You can’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone” resonated with me as I realized I would have to step out and do many activities afraid because, as she pointed out, “you can’t let fear stop you from doing what you need to do”.
My two-month adventure in Italy and France is about being brave, not letting fear stop me, and stepping out of the shackles of comfort zones. Living a life free of fear does require courage, but we don’t have to be completely brave first. Doing those intimidating activities while feeling afraid makes us braver and gives us the confidence we need to be brave again the next time.
We do only have one life to live on this earth. I refuse to live my life in fear anymore. Thankfully, I don’t have to. I know that Jesus walks with me no matter where I go and reveals Himself in unexpected encounters along the way. As our key verse today says, I don’t have to be afraid because God is my God. He promises to give me the strength and help I need. He promises to uphold me. His grasp is firm and sure. I can relax and not be afraid. God’s promise to be with me is a promise I can stand on, no matter how much my legs are trembling. Fear cannot stop me when Jesus is walking with me.
Lord, I thank You for always being with me. Though fear and anxiety try to keep me from living life freely, I trust You to strengthen me and give me the courage to overcome. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Polignano a Mare Beach in Puglia, Italy.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
It was a chance meeting. Quite unexpectedly. I was worried about several things as I entered the line to check my heavy bag. Was I supposed to go to the kiosk first? I did anyway, but that took time and now more people were ahead of me to check their luggage with the airline. The line wasn’t moving quickly. Would I have enough time to get to the gate?
On my way from Bari to Pisa, connecting in Rome, I was in the second week of a two-month trip. Although some of the time I would be traveling with family, friends, and groups, there would be times, like this, where I was on my own. The prospect felt at best a bit daunting, and at worst, downright scary.
Cutting across my apprehensive thoughts, I heard her voice behind me. In her lilting accent, she voiced some of my own thoughts about the slow-moving line. Quickly, the conversation turned to politics and then to other topics. Finally checking our bags, we said good-bye and headed toward Security. God wasn’t done with us yet. Seeing her again on the way to the gate, we picked up our conversation as we waited, first at the gate, and then on the tarmac as the bus took us to the plane. In the course of thirty or so minutes, I realized we had both suffered similar losses: losing both parents, a brother, and marriages that ended in divorce.
Perhaps surviving similar rough times makes for kindred spirits. At any rate, I’m sure she had no idea how profound her words were to me. Words that had echoed in my own heart for some time now found audible expression. Her succinct words, “You only have one life to live”, captured my thoughts perfectly as I embarked on a new adventure, one that would take me down paths I never would have gone before. “You can’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone” resonated with me as I realized I would have to step out and do many activities afraid because, as she pointed out, “you can’t let fear stop you from doing what you need to do”.
My two-month adventure in Italy and France is about being brave, not letting fear stop me, and stepping out of the shackles of comfort zones. Living a life free of fear does require courage, but we don’t have to be completely brave first. Doing those intimidating activities while feeling afraid makes us braver and gives us the confidence we need to be brave again the next time.
We do only have one life to live on this earth. I refuse to live my life in fear anymore. Thankfully, I don’t have to. I know that Jesus walks with me no matter where I go and reveals Himself in unexpected encounters along the way. As our key verse today says, I don’t have to be afraid because God is my God. He promises to give me the strength and help I need. He promises to uphold me. His grasp is firm and sure. I can relax and not be afraid. God’s promise to be with me is a promise I can stand on, no matter how much my legs are trembling. Fear cannot stop me when Jesus is walking with me.
Lord, I thank You for always being with me. Though fear and anxiety try to keep me from living life freely, I trust You to strengthen me and give me the courage to overcome. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Polignano a Mare Beach in Puglia, Italy.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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