I Choose Brave . . . but how?

Fear.

Whether we admit it or not, we grapple with it at every stage of our lives. Often unrecognized, it lives beneath the surface of our days, influencing our decisions and relationships. Stealing our hope and joy.

We deny it. Dodge it. Cave to it.

Until we muscle up and take it on with all the reason and strength we can muster. We decide to be FEARLESS. We irradiate it with bravado, or anger. And sometimes we can knock it back.

Only to realize that fear, like the worst of diseases, rebounds, often with far more vigor than at first.

The bravest among us finally admit that fearlessness is a sham—something we only pretend. Instead, we can choose a courage that requires powerful fear.

Katie Westenberg understands why—and in her new book I Choose Brave, she explains how.

When I ran across one of Katie’s posts a couple of years ago, I promptly sought more of them. Learned that she’s a Washington girl, who lives a short hour from where my husband grew up. Heard how, in a thousand daily ways, she lives in courage through her fear, not instead of it. In every one of posts, she models the humility and wisdom that can only come from surrender to a holy God who translates and transforms fear.

I followed her online. Subscribed to her blog. We corresponded enough that I trust her as a friend and a sister in Christ. When she said she was writing this book, I knew it would be good.

It is. Moving seamlessly between illustrations from her own life and the lives of the most frightened brave people in scripture, Katie provides clarity on what to do with all our fear.

Get this book. Believe it. Be afraid. And be very, very BRAVE.

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And in an eggshell, here are posts from earlier in the week:

Abacus?
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“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
—Matthew 7:2

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In case you wondered who drinks asparagus nectar at sunrise.
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“I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.”
—Psalm 119:147

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When your paint peels.
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“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
—Isaiah 46:4

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Cyclops.
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“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”
—James 2:19-20

Blessings, friends. I’m glad you’re here.

Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks