She sniffled. Wiped away a few runaway tears.I wanted to console her—reach back and rub her knee—to
say, there, there, I understand. But in that moment, other words
started coming out instead before I’d really processed what
they might sound like, spoken with a fierceness and intensity
that shocked even me.
“Do it anyway!” I said, spinning around almost a full turn
from my front-seat position, looking directly into her face.
“Shawna, if the only reason you aren’t moving forward is fear,
then don’t you see that the enemy is trying to paralyze you?
He’s the one behind this. Don’t sit there and let him do that.
Don’t let him stop you from moving forward. I don’t care how
afraid or not ready you may feel. Obey God anyway!”
She stared at me blankly. I stared back. Both of us stunned
by my indignation.
The fact is, I was mad. Still am. Mad at the enemy for
messing with my friend like that. And I’m mad at him for
messing with you too... and with me. With all of us. Anytime I
begin seeing that the only thing keeping me from receiving
everything God wants to give me is the fear tactic the enemy is