#FEARLESS365 is a yearlong study of God’s commandment to us to live without fear. For 365 days, we will focus on one scripture and volunteers from all over the world will share their personal thoughts and what God has shared with them on the specific verse. For more info… go here.

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Genesis 15:1

A few years ago, my family and I took a trip to Enchanted Rock right outside Fredericksburg, Texas. Enchanted Rock is a pink rock that rises 425 feet above the terrain. The climb up is steep and the view up there, I hear, is quite breathtaking. I say that because, I never made it to the top. You see, I was halfway up, when I made the giant mistake of looking behind, and below me. I was so focused on my feet, making sure my footing was good, that I forgot I have a fear of heights. So in that moment, I froze. Great timing, right? I couldn’t lift up my foot to save my life. My husband, who was carrying our two year old in a hiking backpack, was ways ahead of me. I had to either find a way to finish climbing this massive rock, or figure out how to get back down. I’m pretty sure I would have been perfectly fine just being rooted to that one spot.

But I knew I couldn’t stay up there. I had to get down. I can be stubborn and will plunge head on into projects, or in this case, up this rock, without thinking. Halfway through, I falter. Fear catches up with me and then I remember I’m not as fearless, or as adventurous, as I think I am.

Truth be told, I have no idea how I got back down. I know I prayed. I prayed with each slow step. One of the greatest gifts, or rewards, God offers us is protection. He tells us, “I am your shield.” And it’s comforting to know that we can use Him to shield us not just against our enemies, but our own fears, as well. Fear can paralyze us into negative thinking. Fear can keep us from our dreams, our goals. Fear can even keep us away from God. We can be fearful that our shortcomings, our deficits, can never amount up to what we believe God has in store for us.

But God is our Father. He wants our love and wants to protect us. More often than not, He shields me from things that I don’t even realize that I needed protecting from.

My fear kept me from moving upward. “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

This verse reminded me of that day and how I wished I had the courage to trust in the Lord. Because isn’t that what it boils down to? We put trust that our armors will protect us. Had I trusted in Him at the beginning of my climb, I probably would have made it to the top. I would have seen more of God’s wonder displayed in a panoramic view of the Hill Country.

These days, I wish I could say that I am trusting more in Him. But it’s a daily walk, a daily process. I’m still jumping head first into life, and getting more anxious of the things I can’t control. The older I’m getting, I have come to the conclusion that fear will always be in my life. Just as God will be. But I need to trust in Him more. I need believe that He is bigger than my fears, otherwise, I’m going to keep missing out on another one of God’s wonders.

Leila Tualla is a stay at home mom, and writer, Author of Love, Defined who lives in Spring, Texas.