July 22
Fear and Faith
on the Stage
"So do not be afraid. I am with you. Do not be terrified. I am your God.
I will make you strong and help you. I will hold you safe in my hands. I always do what is right."
Isaiah 41:10, NIrV
Emma’s stomach churned as she stood behind the heavy curtain, gripping her note cards so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The buzzing of voices from the audience—200 pairs of eyes waiting for her—felt deafening.
She was young, new to the job, and completely out of her depth. When her boss asked her to present the quarterly report, she had nearly laughed in disbelief. Surely, there had been a mistake. But now, standing backstage, she realized there was no way out.
The announcer called her name. Her legs felt like lead as she stepped forward. The bright stage lights blinded her, and the room tilted slightly as panic set in. She cleared her throat and began, but her voice cracked before she even finished the first sentence. A trickle of sweat ran down her back. The microphone in her shaky hand amplified her nervousness for all to hear.
She froze. Her mind went blank. The silence stretched.
God, help me.
The prayer wasn’t long, wasn’t fancy—just a desperate whisper from her heart. And in that moment, a thought nudged its way into her mind. She had written a joke in the middle of her speech to lighten the mood. Maybe she could bring it forward, break the tension.
She took a breath. “Well,” she said with a small chuckle, “that went well, didn’t it?”
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Someone in the front row gave her an encouraging nod. The tension in her shoulders eased.
She started again, this time with a steadier voice. As she spoke, she realized she wasn’t alone. God was with her, just as He promised.
By the time she finished, the audience applauded, and her boss smiled approvingly. She had done it—not by her own strength, but by God’s.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for reminding me that I am never alone.
When fear grips my heart, help me to trust that You are holding me steady.
Just as You helped Emma find courage, help me to rely on You in moments of weakness.
I know You are with me, strengthening me every step of the way.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
