The Breath of Courage

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7,

Do you feel that familiar knot in your stomach when you think about sharing your faith? The fear of stumbling over your words, the dread of causing offence, the worry about losing a friend, the anxiety of an unanswerable question, the concern about seeming strange; these are all common companions on the journey of witness. They whisper lies of inadequacy and isolation. But take heart, dear friend. These fears do not come from God. He has given us a far greater Companion: His own Holy Spirit dwelling within us.

The Spirit within you is not a passive presence. He is the very antidote to fear. Where fear tells you, “You are weak; you can’t do this,” the Spirit declares that God’s power works through you. He doesn’t merely watch from a distance—He actively works through you as you yield to Him. The message you carry isn’t dependent on your eloquence, but on the gospel itself, which is the power of God at work, saving all who believe. The Spirit empowers your words and actions to carry that life-changing power. You are not left alone in your weakness; His strength is perfected in it.

When fear says, “Protect yourself; it’s too risky,” the Holy Spirit pours out love; this is real, supernatural love that looks beyond your comfort and sees the eternal need of others. This love, stirred in our hearts by the Spirit, compels us to speak. It lifts our eyes from our own insecurities and fixes them on the One who first loved us. We speak not because we are unafraid, but because we love, and perfect love casts out fear.

Fear also tempts us to retreat and remain in our comfort zones. But the Holy Spirit cultivates within us a self-discipline that acts even when the heart trembles. Like a musician stepping onto a stage with trembling hands, we may not feel brave, but the Spirit gives us the resolve to step forward in faith. It is not about mustering strength from within ourselves, but about yielding in obedience and trusting the Spirit to supply what we lack in the moment. He teaches us to direct our will toward faithfulness, even when fear still lingers.

Many believers find, like Kaeleigh did, that when they take small steps in dependence on the Spirit, He meets them in surprising ways. Words come that they didn’t plan, hearts open more easily than expected, and relationships remain intact or even deepen. The fear we imagine beforehand is so often greater than what we actually experience when walking in step with the Spirit.

This moment-by-moment connection to the Spirit can be cultivated like breathing. Just as our physical breath sustains life, we can learn to breathe spiritually when fear rises. Exhale by confessing your fear honestly to God: “Lord, I’m afraid. I feel unsure and unworthy. I release this fear to you.” Then inhale by trusting the Spirit—“Holy Spirit, I receive your presence. Fill me afresh with your power, your love, and the courage to act with faith.”

Let this be your prayer:
Father, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit who lives in me. I confess the fears that so often hold me back from sharing the hope I have in Christ. Right now, I exhale those fears—my worries about words, relationships, offence, questions, and perceptions. I release them to you. Holy Spirit, I inhale deeply, trusting you to fill me anew. Empower me with your strength, flood me with Christ’s compelling love, and grant me the self-discipline to act faithfully. As I go through this day, help me remember to breathe spiritually, moment by moment, relying completely on you. Give me eyes to see opportunities and a heart ready to respond in your power, not my own fear. Amen.

Today, try pausing intentionally. When anxiety knocks, exhale in prayer. When an opportunity arises to be a witness, inhale and lean into the Spirit. You might just find He has already gone ahead of you, waiting to do what only He can do.

Kay Alli