The commercial is right, “life comes at you fast.”

And we can’t always control what comes our way. We have two choices when we find ourselves between a rock and hard place. Cut and run, or face it head on.

When I was fresh out of Ohio State and hired on for my dream job – it involved traveling – life was grand.

Three months into my training, a horrible awful thing happened. I was hit with fear. Really bad fear, anxiety, panic, you name it.

Now this was back in, well, another decade, and things like this weren’t classified as they are now. I sort of understood how and why it was happening, but had no clue how to get rid of it.

Except Jesus.

One of the side effects of these random emotions was claustrophobia. Especially when flying. I had a traveling job which included, you guessed it, a lot of flying.

And, I spent a lot of nights alone in hotels.

I had two choices. Face my fears or quite my job.

I chose to face my fears, cling to Jesus and His Word. I understood fear would own me or eventually, I would own it.

Now, it was not an easy journey. The battle was long and hard fought with prayer and the Word. Trust me, they work!

But in the end, victory. We can truly do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

This is a universal truth.

In writing fiction, our characters must face a moment where they will accept a challenge or run. In Sweet Caroline, she’s handed a run down money pit cafe she does not want. Nor can she afford. But saying no comes with ramifications she isn’t willing to accept.

So, she accepts the challenge of the Cafe. Overcoming makes her strong and ultimately leads her to a deeper truth in Jesus.

In Susan May Warren’s Taming Rafe, Rafe is faced with the challenge of helping Kat and returning to a life he’d long left behind. Will he do it? Can he face his past to realize his future?

What’s the gauntlet in your life? Will you face the trial or cut and run? Pray hard. Seek Grace and then say it loud, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!”

Hop over to forums and tell us your victory stories!