Daily Devotional for October 16, 2019
Nothing to Fear
More than a dozen kids stood in line waiting for their turn on the diving board. Will’s stomach churned. He quickly got out of line and joined his dad, who was waiting at the edge of the pool. “I can’t jump, Dad. I’m afraid.”
Dad took a deep breath and smiled. “Will, you’ve been taking swimming lessons for weeks now. It’s okay to be scared, but let’s try to move past it so you can make progress.”
Will cast his eyes downward. “Maybe I should quit swimming.”
Dad shook his head. “I know you’re frustrated, Will, but that’s not a good reason to throw in the towel.”
A splash of water hit Will’s back. He looked over his shoulder. “Look, Dad! Even little Joey dove into the pool. I wanna go home!”
Dad sat down and patted the bench beside him. “First, let me tell you something my father told me when I was taking swimming lessons.”
“You took swimming lessons?” Will asked.
Dad nodded. “Yes, and my father reminded me that Jesus isn’t just with us in church—He’s with us everywhere. Instead of being afraid when we face obstacles, we can trust Him to give us strength. Because He died and rose again to save us, we have nothing to fear. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make wise, careful choices—like whether or not to jump off the diving board—but we don’t have to run away from something just because we’re afraid. As God’s children, we can depend on Him to help us overcome fear and face any obstacles we encounter.”
“I never thought about it like that,” said Will.
The sun started to beat down on them. Will pulled the towel off the chair and covered his head with it. Dad watched the other kids having fun.
A few minutes later, Will sprung from his chair. “I feel rested now. Can I get back in the water?”
“Sure.” Dad rose to his feet. “I’ll sit on the edge of the pool with you.”
Will shook his head. “That’s all right. I’m ready to trust God to help me do something I need to do.”
As Dad sat back down, Will shouted, “Diving board, here I come!” Linda Ray Center
How about you?
When you face a scary or challenging situation, do you trust God for strength? Or do you avoid it? Jesus loves you and doesn’t want you to live in fear. He’s always with you and will give you the strength you need to face life’s challenges. Instead of giving up when you face difficulties, trust Jesus to help you overcome your fear.
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