Faith Over Chaos

So my pastor dropped a truth bomb this week: “Be courageous. Don’t live in fear.” And I nodded like a seasoned church lady who’s got it all together—Bible highlighted, coffee in hand, and a Pinterest board titled ‘Faith Over Fear’ to prove it.

But here’s the thing. I’m excellent at telling you how to be brave. I can quote scripture, slap a verse on a sunrise photo, and even write a devotional about trusting God in the storm. I’m basically the spiritual version of a motivational poster.

Yet when it comes to applying that courage to my own mess? Suddenly I’m the poster child for Faith-ish Over Chaos.

I’m deeply blessed—truly. I’ve watched God renew the wreckage of my choices and my family’s missteps with a grace so tender it makes me cry in the cereal aisle. But I still find myself clinging to control, tiptoeing around fear like it’s a sleeping bear I don’t want to poke.

So this post isn’t about how you can be courageous. It’s about how I keep forgetting to be. And maybe, just maybe, we can laugh, cry, and repent our way through it together.

Then my pastor brought up Moses—you know, the guy with a whole scroll of excuses for why he wasn’t the one to lead. “I stutter,” “I’m not qualified,” “Can’t Aaron do it?” Classic.

And then there’s Joshua. God says, “It’s your turn,” and Joshua just… does it. No rebuttal. No dramatic monologue. No “let me pray about it for six months and consult my therapist.” Just quiet obedience.

Cue my internal dialogue: Well, that’s awkward. I’m definitely more Moses than Joshua. If you know me, you know silence isn’t my spiritual gift. I don’t just sit and nod—I negotiate, stall, and occasionally offer God a PowerPoint presentation on why someone else might be better suited.

But maybe courage isn’t loud. Maybe it’s not a battle cry or a perfectly timed Instagram reel. Maybe it’s just saying “yes” when God calls your name—even if your knees are shaking and your voice sounds like a squirrel in distress.

So maybe courage isn’t about roaring like a lion—it’s about whispering “yes” when God calls, even if your voice cracks.

And maybe the most Eden-like thing we can do is stop arguing with the Gardener and just walk where He leads, thorns and all.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Helping you find peace in the garden again—even if you showed up dragging a suitcase full of excuses and a megaphone for your rebuttals.

If you’re brave enough to admit you’re more Moses than Joshua (hi, welcome to the club), here are a few questions to help you limp boldly toward Eden.

Reflection questions:

• When was the last time you gave God a list of reasons why you weren’t the one for the job? Did He take the list… or just hand you the assignment anyway?
• Are you living more like Moses—explaining, delaying, negotiating—or like Joshua, quietly stepping into the unknown?
• What does courage look like in your current chaos? Is it a bold move, or a quiet “yes” with trembling hands?
• Where are you still trying to control the outcome instead of trusting the Gardener?
• If Eden Thinking means walking with God even when it’s messy… what’s one area you need to stop tiptoeing around and start trusting?