He Helps Me to be Brave

Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.” As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.” Psalm 55:5-8

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge.” Psalm 18:2

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

As a teen, I was often shy, insecure and awkward—which was very difficult. Talking to someone I didn't know well or speaking up in class made me sooo anxious. I desperately wanted to be more socially adept, but struggled with fears of rejection and ridicule. How could I face those fears, which were sometimes not unfounded, when my instinct was to stay curled up in my comfort zone of quietness? 

Slowly, but surely, I began putting myself out there, and found a few successes. I believe these small acts of bravery were made possible by my involvement in church and the encouragement of my parents and friends. More specifically, I believe God was using those circumstances and people to build me up.

Though I knew God back then, I didn't yet have a close relationship with him. The cool thing is, that as my confidence grew, so did my relationship with God. I learned to trust and rely on Him more, and that made all the difference. By the time I was a young adult, I was finally listening to the Holy Spirit, opening my Bible more, praying more, getting more involved in church ministries and most importantly, loving Jesus more. 

In recent years, I've faced very difficult circumstances that required a new level of bravery. For example, when my dear mom needed me to sit with her in hospice—to share meaningful conversations with her, and be supportive, caring and present—it seemed like a daunting task. (All I wanted to do was fall apart.) But since I knew Whom I could call on, Who would be with me and Who would be my Rock, I did not fall apart. God whispered, “Don't be afraid. I will strengthen you and help you.” And sure enough, He did. Every time God has helped me to be brave, my courage and my faith have been strengthened. I know there will be more difficult circumstances ahead, but thankfully, He's given me a rock-solid foundation on which to build my life.

Sharon Irvin

 * What’s Your Story? 

This summer, we invited members of our Eastridge community to explore ABCs of Faith: Simple Stories for Complex Times. In this series, we will be exploring stories from the Bible that tell us about God and God’s people. But our faith is also carried through our own stories.

When someone asks, “What’s your story?” they’re asking about the moments that shaped you: the people, experiences, challenges, and turning points that made you who you are. Scripture is full of such stories—and so are we.  

Throughout the series, we’ll offer prompts connected to the themes we’re exploring. You’re invited to share a brief reflection on any prompt that resonates with you—especially a moment that changed your mind, your heart, or your life. Selected stories may be shared (with your permission) in our newsletter, devotionals, or even during worship.