There’s a saying floating around in the self-help world: “Do it scared.”

It’s catchy. It’s inspiring. And it’s a whole lot easier said than done.

When fear shows up, our first instinct is often to stop, freeze, or retreat. We imagine that in order to move forward, we have to first get rid of the fear. Know this: fear isn’t always a stop sign. Fear can be an indicator that we’re stepping into something bigger than ourselves.

Almost every time God says “do not fear” in Scripture, He couples it with a promise of His presence:

• “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” (Isaiah 41:10)
• “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’” (Isaiah 41:13)
• “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)
• “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” (Psalm 46:1–3)
• “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” (Deuteronomy 3:22)
• “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified… for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
• “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

We sometimes imagine fear as a weakness or a flaw, but Jesus understands fear intimately. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that He experienced every emotion we do—without sin. He knows what it feels like to be pressed by uncertainty, threatened by danger, and pulled into the tension of “this is hard, but I must obey.” Fear is human.

Remember the Garden of Gethsemane? Jesus prayed in deep distress, fully aware of the suffering to come, and still He walked forward in obedience. That’s not the absence of fear—that’s courage grounded in the Father’s will.

Maybe “do it scared” isn’t about pushing through in our own strength while fear gnaws at the edges of our courage. Maybe it’s about doing it with fear… Not fear/scared but fear/confidence in the Lord. The kind of confidence that says, “Yes, my heart is racing, but my God is here. My knees might be shaking, but my Savior’s hand is holding mine. I may tremble, but His promises will not.”

Vulnerable moment: I get scared sometimes. I can be full of faith and still feel the thump of anxiety in my chest. (Okay, to be really honest – I feel it in my stomach – that kind of dropping, didn’t finish my homework, might throw up kind of feeling). I’ve learned that I can hold fear and faith together, the way I’ve held joy and grief at the same time. Sometimes I can switch from fear scared to fear confident in the Lord as quickly as flipping off a light. Fortunately, when the light in my soul flickers off, the Holy Spirit is there to switch it back on. Every time.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t shame us for feeling fear. He simply displays the truth again and again—reminding us of God’s promises, steadying our breath, whispering the courage of Scripture into our hearts. In that light that He switched back on for me, I can do anything He’s called me to do. Not because fear is gone, but because His presence is greater.

And you can, too.

When David wrote Psalm 23:4—“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”—he didn’t deny that the valley existed. He didn’t minimize the shadows. He simply placed the reality of God’s presence above the reality of danger.

That’s what “do it scared” looks like for a believer: not blind bravado, not pretending fear doesn’t exist, but taking the next step because the Lord is with us.

Every time we take that step, something happens: fear loses just a little more of its grip. Faith grows a little stronger. We start to see God’s fingerprints not just on the moments when we felt brave, but on the trembling moments when we leaned on Him most.

If you’re standing at the edge of something right now—something that feels risky, uncomfortable, or overwhelming—here’s a prayer for you:

Lord, You know my fears. You know how my heart races when I think about what lies ahead. Thank You for the reminder that You never leave my side. Give me courage to take the next step, not because I feel strong, but because You are my strength. Let Your presence be more real to me than my fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.

You don’t have to wait until you “feel” ready. You don’t have to wait for the fear to disappear. If God has called you, He’s already promised to go with you. Take the step. Make the call. Start the project. Have the conversation. You aren’t alone, and moving forward in the knowledge that God has you on every side is a treasure ❤