There was a time I attended a faith and discipleship school in Colorado, where part of our training included spending three days out in the wilderness. During one of the simulations, we were sent to a “vulture tribe”, a group named after the false god they worshipped. In the simulation, one of the men in the tribe was about to be sacrificed for committing adultery. Three of us were chosen to offer ourselves in his place, and I was one of them. Even though it was only a simulation, in that moment, it felt incredibly real to me. I remember being terrified. My heart was pounding, and I genuinely thought I might die.

But something shifted inside of me while standing there. I thought about Jesus and how He willingly gave His life for us while we were still sinners. I remember thinking, “If Jesus died for me, then I’m willing to die for them.”What shocked me most was how love became greater than fear in that moment.1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…”I think many people misunderstand courage. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is obedience in the middle of fear. It is trusting God enough to say yes even when your flesh is trembling.

The wilderness throughout Scripture was often a place of preparation. God led the Israelites through the wilderness not to destroy them, but to humble them, refine them, and teach them dependence on Him. Even Jesus was led into the wilderness before stepping into ministry. Sometimes obedience to God will lead us into wilderness seasons that stretch us beyond comfort. Sometimes God calls us to let go of fear, control, unhealthy habits, or even old versions of ourselves so we can fully trust Him.

Fear has a way of trying to pull us backward into what feels familiar, even when God is calling us forward into something deeper. But the deeper we experience the Father’s love, the less power fear begins to have over us. God used my wilderness season to show me that fear does not have to control me.

He showed me that courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to obey Him in the middle of it. I’ve learned that wilderness seasons come and go throughout life. They are often places of stretching, refining, healing, and deeper dependence on God. But the same God who sustains us in the wilderness is also the one who leads us into new seasons of growth, peace, and purpose. Courage is trusting God even when fear tempts us to stay where we feel comfortable.

Scripture References:1 John 4:18 (NIV) “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…”Deuteronomy 8:2 (NIV) “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart.”