What voice is louder?

Looking right at me, she said, “Would you mind speaking at our next meeting?”

I inhaled sharply. There was no way she could know about the tongue-tied, sweaty ball of nerves I became when speaking in front of an audience.

It hadn’t always been this way. In school, I gave speeches and performed on stage. But somewhere along the way, my voice grew smaller as life became louder and more complicated. The opinions of others, along with a fear of embarrassment, slowly swallowed my willingness to step in front of a microphone.

After an awkward pause and with my pulse pounding in my ears, I finally said, “Sure, I’d be glad to.”

As I prepared for the event, I meditated on 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) —

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 

This truth from God’s Word brought comfort and steadiness to my heart and gave me the courage to step out in faith and trust Him with the outcome of that speech.

Choosing God’s truth over our flesh requires deep trust in Him and His faithfulness. It means releasing our anxieties and letting go of the need to control. When we do, we discover that resting in His promises brings peace that speaks louder than our fears.

Take Time to Pause

• Where have you noticed fear shaping your decisions lately?
• What past moments of God’s faithfulness can you return to when the present feels uncertain or hard?