Having facilitated vision boards for over 70 people in January 2020 alone, one theme keeps emerging as a focus for the new year: moving past fear.

Women are afraid to write their story, afraid to open up their home, afraid to teach a class, afraid to pursue a new relationship.

You've heard the adage "be careful asking God to make you more patient because He will give you plenty of chances to practice patience" but it applies to other areas of life as well. If we ask God to make us fearless, why do we think He is going to make us magically more courageous? It's like we assume He's going to outfit us with an invisible hero cape. "I'm going to wake up tomorrow without fear!" No! He is going to give us opportunities to push through our fear.

I'm going to wake up tomorrow with a dead battery and have to push through my fear to talk to a new neighbor about giving my battery a jump.

I'm going to face a diagnosis, a confrontation I'd rather avoid, a financial setback and give my faith muscles a workout.

I've learned over the years that people I admire aren't fearless, they're just doing scary things afraid.

I joke that nothing scares me anymore and it's nearly true. I've faced many of the things I use to be scared of, whether heading up a committee, attending an event alone, taking a speaking gig, publishing a controversial blog post or singing in front of 300 people. Every experience taught me something and helped me face the next challenge with greater confidence.

I still walk into meetings and appointments with a low grade nervousness at best and full blown fight or flight reaction at worst. When I sang in front of 300 people I literally fought the instinct to leave through the back, thinking, "They would just go on without me" and forced myself to stay in my seat until it was time to go on stage. Once I had the mic in my mind, my nerves dissipated and when the song was over, I felt like I could have soared out of there with relief!

The truth is, God promises to be with us wherever we go. We never have to face anything alone. We are commanded to be strong and courageous.

Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Plus the Holy Spirit offers us supernatural strength.

Ephesians 3:16 states, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being."

We can do hard things with God on our side.

To date, no one has literally died from stage fright so chances are, you'll survive whatever scary thing you're facing and you'll be stronger for it.

What would you do if you fear weren't an obstacle? Maybe God is calling you to do just that...together with Him.

Tabitha Dumas
Author