Check out this video. Michael Jordan said he was nervous when he stepped up to take a free throw in public for the first time in years.

Did you notice who his audience was? Kids.

Think about that. Michael Jordan. The greatest basketball player of all time was nervous about a shot he’s made thousands of times before. He even made one in a game once with his eyes closed.

I once had a senior pastor, who was listed among the 20th century’s most influential preachers, tell me “If you’re not nervous before preaching, you’re doing something wrong.” Those nerves, he said, mean you still care. They’re a sign that what’s about to happen matters.

The number one command in Scripture is “Do not be afraid.”

From Genesis to Revelation, God tells His people not to fear. Not because there’s nothing to be afraid of, but because He is with them.

Fear in Scripture shows up in familiar ways:

1. Fear of external threats – David’s fear of Saul (1 Sam 23:17)
2. Fear of new assignments and the unknown – Joshua taking over for Moses (Joshua 1:9)
3. Fear of loneliness and helplessness – Isaiah as they face Exile (Isaiah 41:13)
4. Fear of hidden things being made known – Adam hiding in the Garden (Gen 3:10)
5. Fear of death, loss and insignificance – Walking through the Valley of Death (Psalm 23:4)
6. Fear of failure – Gideon’s feelings of inadequacy (Judges 6:15)

The point isn’t to eliminate fear. The point is to have courage in the face of it.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the decision to move forward with fear still whispering in your ear.
It’s choosing faith with trembling hands.

That’s why the second most repeated command in the Bible is remember.
Remembering is the antidote to fear. In face of fear, we remember the promises of God:

• Provision — “My God will supply all your needs.” Philippians 4:19
• Presence — “I am with you always.” Matthew 28:20
• Permanence — “Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” Romans 8:38–39 

So take that shot, with trembling hands, and know that the Lord will be with you wherever you go.