The Courage in Fear: How Faith Finds Us at the Edge
Fear is not our enemy, it’s our invitation. It’s not here to trouble us, but to point us toward something that matters. When we stop trying to outrun fear or silence it with quick answers, and instead meet it with honest, better questions, we begin to see what it’s really offering: a threshold, not a threat.
Fear rarely travels alone. It has a quiet companion: faith.
But not the kind of faith built on naïve optimism or emotional hype. This is determined faith. Rooted. Forward-facing. It doesn’t knock you backward, it pulls you up onto your toes. Like a sprinter in position, this faith whispers, “Get ready. You’re about to go.”
There’s another kind of faith, though. A more familiar one. The faith of feelings.
It sounds like wisdom. It feels like safety. But it often becomes our most convincing excuse.
This kind of faith says:
“This doesn’t feel right.”
“I’ve been here before, and it didn’t end well.”
“Let’s take the easier path—just in case.”
This is faith in survival, not in purpose. It doesn’t want to lead; it wants to protect. But in protecting, it also limits. It’s faith designed to avoid challenge, not to meet it.
The other kind of faith, the determined one, doesn’t ignore risk. It acknowledges it, looks it in the eye, and still says: “Let’s find out what’s waiting on the other side.”
Fear will always raise its voice with doubts:
“There could be trouble ahead.”
“What if you fail?”
“Who do you think you are?”
But when you stop listening to fear and start looking at it, how it shows up, what it actually wants, you begin to see the truth: fear isn’t a warning sign to turn back. It’s a mile marker telling you something meaningful is near.
One kind of fear leads us to hesitation, avoidance, detours at the first sign of resistance.
The other kind? It’s an invitation. A beckoning. A challenge.
It says: “It could be anything. Best we go check it out.”
How Fear Became My Bridge to Others
I’ve faced this kind of fear at every major turning point in my life.
When I left a stable, well-paying job in corporate America, even though I didn’t have all the next steps figured out. When I chose divorce, knowing deep down it was the healthiest path forward, even though it came with judgment and uncertainty.When I stopped ignoring the signs of emotional abuse and narcissism, and finally confronted the toxic patterns that had drained me for too long.
Each step carried the weight of uncertainty, shame, and loss. Yet every time I chose to lean in, to pause, breathe, examine, and move forward, I stepped into a deeper presence.
Now, if you're walking a similar path, facing that anxiety-storm one small step at a time, know this: you don't have to do it on your own.
➤ If you feel stuck in doubt, overwhelm, or emotional conflict, reach out. Let’s connect.
I’ve built a system born from seeing the finish line, from engaging our core tenets—Think on Purpose · Always Be Prepared · Be Disciplined—and from turning rhythm into momentum. Whether you're wrestling with career shifts, personal relationships, or inner turbulence, I’d be honored to walk with you.
If this post resonated, please don’t let the fear voice win today. Send me a message, and let’s talk about what might be possible when we face fear together, step by step.
Jerry Wilkerson,
