Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you’ll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. In today’s episode, Fear of the Unknown, we’ll discuss how to experience boldness when we dare to move forward.

Show Notes: Fear of the Unknown

I like to have a plan and to be organized and prepared. All the time. Why? I admit that I do like order and find it hard to work in clutter. Deep, deep down inside, though, is that trepidation that likes to sneak up on me: Fear of the unknown.

Mix that with a melancholy personality and I can start counting the ways why this new thing or that new event will probably ruin my life. It’s easy to think of twelve reasons why I’ll crash and burn. And I can’t pull together a single thought on a positive note. But I am working hard to change.

My hair has always been dark brown, the classic brunette. The problem with that was I started graying at twenty-three. So, I put rinses on my hair to cover the gray but by the time I was in my late thirties, I was adding blond highlights to blend in with the gray. My daughter was in cosmetology school and suggested I just go blond.

Fear of the unknown attacked. I instantly had tons of reasons why it would look bad, everyone would laugh and point, and I’d be disgraced forever. While debating within myself, I heard a tiny whisper inside my soul, “But what if you like it?”

Oh, my. Once again, I’d let fear take over and didn’t consider even one good thought. I took a bold step (for me) and let my daughter fix my hair. I kinda liked it. On Sunday, I crept into my church, waiting for the criticism. Instead, three different people asked me if I had new glasses.

Go figure. I tell myself this story every time I feel God calling me to a new place on the dance floor. Or a different dance. Or to just sit out for a while and drink a glass of punch.

You might say, “Well, my problem is a lot worse than gray hair.” I totally understand. But the principle is the same.

Jeff Walling says, “At its root, the problem for many is the fear of the unknown. When some say, ‘I can’t dance,’ what they are really saying is ‘I’m afraid of what will happen if I do.’ They stand frozen, unprepared to turn loose and let God be God. Don’t expect them to put it in those terms; but if given the choice, they’d take a safe walk with Christ over a surprising dance with him, any day. But miracles and life without limits are only available in the realm of the unexpected, the jubilant, the outrageous. As in music, the ad-lib sections are always the most exciting… if you’re ready for them…God gives each of us moments to take the stage and boldly play our song. Whether in exultant praise or solemn testimony, the Christian must be ready for the unexpected chance to dance with the King. And he must step out with boldness to do it.”

That is really hard, isn’t it? Leaving our comfort zones for the unknown, the unexpected, and the unexplained. In the book of Acts, the early Christians understood this fear and prayed for boldness after being threatened by the religious council. Acts 4:29-31 says: “… Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

They asked and God immediately answered. And sometimes that is what happens, an immediate response. And other times we move slowly in faith and trembling. But God always comes through.

Our part is to fill ourselves with God’s life-changing word and to pray for boldness. Then we move in faith and trust. I have to believe that God is big enough to stop me from making a catastrophic mistake.