SCRIPTURE PROMPT

Do It Afraid

Kicking those ‘what-ifs’ to the curb

Julie Ranson
Koinonia
Published in
4 min readJul 20, 2022

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Hiker standing on a rock with view of shoes and legs only.
Photo by Erik Mclean

She looks back at her classmates, dark hair swishing across a shoulder.

“Come on, Anna! Just fall backward.”

“We’ll catch you. Promise,” another encourages. She’s doubtful.

Distrustful.

What does she really know about these kids in her psychology class? Anna catches the eye of her teacher. Mrs. Carmichael smiles and nods.

“Ohhhh-kay.” She tilts her head back and her body follows.

Here goes, Anna thinks as she exhales on her descent. She winces at the thought of her head hitting the tile floor.

I haven’t played the “Trust Game” for years, though at times it’s felt as though I was leaning back into nothingness and uncertainty. Our lives are full of opportunities requiring a certain level of trust… even grand leaps of faith. And amid those moments, we question everything. Because it’s in our nature to doubt.

But what if?

“I’d apply for that job, but what if…?”

“I have a book idea, but what if…?”

“I’d love to go on a mission trip, but what if…?”

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Julie Ranson
Koinonia

Word Lover. Writer. Self-improver. Believer. Widow. Mother of three adults. Find me everywhere: https://linktr.ee/jjranson