It Starts Small

Mary is a great example of trusting God in a very challenging situation. Our scriptures today help us to take hold of God’s courage to face the most difficult situations in our lives. Not only courage to face but courage to trust God with the outcome.

¹⁸ The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

Matthew 1:18-19

Fear is the catalyst for stress and anxiety.

Fear is the adhesive that keeps our issues firmly attached which hinders our ability to heal.

When God created us, He created us with an awareness of our surroundings. He gives us the ability to discern good from evil and right from wrong. Healthy fears function as an internal alarm system. When we approach unsafe situations or consider making poor decisions, we have an internal warning of potential danger.

Unhealthy fears can paralyze us.

Unhealthy fears keep us from making wise decisions.

These fears overwhelm our emotions, foster irrational thoughts, and keep us from experiencing the abundant life Christ wants for us.

The fear of man causes us to walk a path of deception. The fear of man leads us into sin away from God.

The fear of God gives us warning, wisdom, and inspires us to turn away from sin and trust Him.

Mary, mother of Jesus, chose to face her fears the night Gabriel, angel of the Lord, appeared to her and announced she would deliver the Messiah. Mary was young and a virgin engaged to be married. Without a solid rock foundation of faith in God and the courage to persevere through this circumstance, Mary would have crumbled in fear. But scripture reveals she immediately yielded her life to God’s will.

³⁸ “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:38

Courageously Face your Fears by implementing the following:

• Seek comfort in God’s Presence (Psalm 23:4)

• Cling to scriptural truth (John 17:17)

• Consult godly counsel (Proverbs 12:15)

• Trust God with the outcome (Jeremiah 29:11)

God allows us to go through fearful experiences and He calls us to face our fears by fully trusting Him with our circumstances and future.

Are you currently in a fearful situation?

Decide today to give your fears to God. Ask Him for guidance. Make a commitment to fully trust Him with your direction and outcome.

© Kimberlee Smith 2025 http://www.itstartssmall.com All rights reserved.