“Mom, can you read this?”
I look up, and there is my 16 year old, holding his newest chapter to the book he’s writing. He gives me a tentative smile, and I know I need to ask the question:
“As your mother….or as an editor?”

Let’s face it – it’s scary to write a book. Oh, not necessarily to put words on the page (although for some people that is scary!), but to show them to others. Especially a picky book doctor mom. I had to admire his courage when he answered, “As an editor.”

O-kay! We spent the next three hours going over his story. And when we finished, he said, “Well, that was painful. But good, even fun.”

Facing our fears is so much like that – painful, yet exhilarating. We often find they’re not as terrifying as we thought. I have a fear of closed spaces. Like caves. Yet, I would have missed out on the beauty of the underground treasures had I not muscled up my courage and went spelunking in Ukraine.

We’re going to be talking this week about the Fears and Courage of our character, how we can use them to deepen our epic story. But first let’s look at what the Bible says about our fears.

Psalm 56 says: “When I am afraid I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, I will trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?”

I love this verse – basically, if God is on our side, then what do I have to fear? He’ll equip me and strengthen me for every moment, every day, through every fear.

I’m on my son’s side. When he gives me his manuscript, he can expect only words that encourage, help him grow, help him become the person and writer he wants to be, because I love him. God loves us infinitely more. We can expect infinitely more.

I don’t know what fears face your life today – if they’re writing related, or just life-related. But know that God is on your side, and the message he brings to us, his beloved children is…Fear Not.