5 Minutes with Jesus is a daily devotional series for people in the midst of real life, whether facing anxiety, grief, questions of purpose, or simply needing encouragement and connection. Hosted by Sheila Walsh, each five-minute episode offers Biblical truth, honest reflections on faith and emotions, and closes with a moment of prayer.
Closed captions
Show Timecode
| Sheila Walsh: Fear | 5 Minutes with Jesus | October 27, 2025
- Fear is a powerful thing.
- 00:00:00.256 --> 00:00:02.325
- Fear can serve to protect us.
- 00:00:02.325 --> 00:00:04.327
- But it can also paralyze us and keep us from being who
- 00:00:04.327 --> 00:00:07.831
- We were created to be.
- 00:00:07.831 --> 00:00:13.236
- Fear seems like it's overwhelming so many lives
- 00:00:14.237 --> 00:00:16.973
- At the moment.
- 00:00:16.973 --> 00:00:17.974
- Well, god talks so much in scripture about fear.
- 00:00:17.974 --> 00:00:21.678
- Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear.
- 00:00:21.678 --> 00:00:26.683
- If we're afraid, it's for fear of punishment.
- 00:00:26.683 --> 00:00:29.352
- And this shows that we've not fully experienced
- 00:00:29.352 --> 00:00:32.455
- His perfect love.
- 00:00:32.455 --> 00:00:33.857
- That's first john, chapter four.
- 00:00:33.857 --> 00:00:36.359
- I learned an important lesson one day in africa.
- 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:39.429
- We'd been working with a school program in a village
- 00:00:39.429 --> 00:00:41.898
- And as the sun was beginning to set.
- 00:00:41.898 --> 00:00:43.766
- It was time
- 00:00:43.766 --> 00:00:45.034
- To turn back to the lodge where we were staying that night.
- 00:00:45.034 --> 00:00:47.270
- As we crested a hill.
- 00:00:47.270 --> 00:00:48.838
- I spotted an impala.
- 00:00:48.838 --> 00:00:50.640
- It had
- 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:51.941
- Become separated from the pack somehow, and instead of running
- 00:00:51.941 --> 00:00:54.777
- With the long, graceful strides i expected to see,
- 00:00:54.777 --> 00:00:58.081
- It was standing perfectly still, as if frozen.
- 00:00:58.081 --> 00:01:01.885
- I asked our driver why it wasn't moving, and he pointed
- 00:01:01.885 --> 00:01:05.522
- Off in the distance to a clearing in the trees.
- 00:01:05.522 --> 00:01:08.525
- There he was, a magnificent lion stalking his prey.
- 00:01:08.525 --> 00:01:13.263
- He told us that the impala is much faster than the lion,
- 00:01:13.263 --> 00:01:17.433
- But they can become literally frozen in fear.
- 00:01:17.433 --> 00:01:21.604
- I wanted to yell and tell it to run,
- 00:01:21.604 --> 00:01:23.840
- But the driver told me not to interfere.
- 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:26.543
- Fear is a powerful thing.
- 00:01:27.110 --> 00:01:29.179
- Fear can serve to protect us.
- 00:01:29.179 --> 00:01:31.181
- But it can also paralyze us and keep us from being who
- 00:01:31.181 --> 00:01:34.684
- We were created to be.
- 00:01:34.684 --> 00:01:36.653
- That's part of my story.
- 00:01:36.653 --> 00:01:38.421
- The first time i was invited to speak and teach, i said no.
- 00:01:38.421 --> 00:01:42.659
- I mean, it was a fabulous opportunity with a conference
- 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:45.361
- That god was clearly using to touch women's lives.
- 00:01:45.361 --> 00:01:48.565
- But i was terrified.
- 00:01:48.565 --> 00:01:50.433
- I was comfortable in my usual role
- 00:01:50.433 --> 00:01:52.202
- As a television host or as a singer,
- 00:01:52.202 --> 00:01:54.837
- But the thought of standing up with a microphone
- 00:01:54.837 --> 00:01:57.173
- In front of a group of women was horrifying.
- 00:01:57.173 --> 00:02:00.243
- There were so many thoughts that just raced through my head.
- 00:02:00.243 --> 00:02:03.513
- What if i couldn't remember my message?
- 00:02:03.513 --> 00:02:05.648
- What if i just froze on stage?
- 00:02:05.648 --> 00:02:08.184
- What if i said something that didn't make any sense?
- 00:02:08.184 --> 00:02:11.120
- What if i was terrible?
- 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:12.322
- What if i'm just simply not good enough?
- 00:02:12.322 --> 00:02:14.924
- Well, the host of the event persisted,
- 00:02:14.924 --> 00:02:16.926
- And i said no again the second time.
- 00:02:16.926 --> 00:02:19.696
- But the third time they asked me to pray about it.
- 00:02:19.696 --> 00:02:22.532
- Conversely, i'll say no to that.
- 00:02:22.532 --> 00:02:24.267
- But i presented it to the lord in the same what ifs.
- 00:02:24.267 --> 00:02:27.937
- The overwhelming sense from him was simply just be present.
- 00:02:27.937 --> 00:02:32.008
- You don't have to be perfect.
- 00:02:32.008 --> 00:02:33.743
- Now, before you think i have some hot line to heaven
- 00:02:33.743 --> 00:02:36.479
- Where i hear the audible voice of god, i don't.
- 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:39.082
- But after years of walking and relationship with them,
- 00:02:39.082 --> 00:02:41.784
- Reading my bible and listening to the quiet promptings
- 00:02:41.784 --> 00:02:44.954
- Of the holy spirit, i know his voice and my spirit.
- 00:02:44.954 --> 00:02:48.191
- So i said yes to the invitation.
- 00:02:48.191 --> 00:02:51.361
- I'd love to tell you that once i said yes.
- 00:02:51.361 --> 00:02:53.396
- I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace.
- 00:02:53.396 --> 00:02:56.065
- I was not.
- 00:02:56.065 --> 00:02:57.500
- I was still terrified.
- 00:02:57.500 --> 00:02:59.102
- But i showed up.
- 00:02:59.102 --> 00:03:00.703
- I think that courage is just fear that has said yes to god.
- 00:03:00.703 --> 00:03:06.342
- What are the what ifs that are holding you back?
- 00:03:06.342 --> 00:03:08.978
- Are you willing to take a step and see what god might do?
- 00:03:08.978 --> 00:03:12.715
- Allow the truth of god's word to be louder
- 00:03:12.715 --> 00:03:16.286
- Than the clamor of fear.
- 00:03:16.286 --> 00:03:18.221
- Let me pray for us.
- 00:03:18.221 --> 00:03:20.023
- Lord, i want to thank you that we get to say yes to you.
- 00:03:20.023 --> 00:03:23.760
- That's all
- 00:03:23.760 --> 00:03:24.627
- You look for. you don't look for us to
- 00:03:24.627 --> 00:03:26.195
- Be perfect, to get everything right.
- 00:03:26.195 --> 00:03:28.598
- But just to step out in faith.
- 00:03:28.598 --> 00:03:31.234
- To step out even when we are afraid, to do it afraid
- 00:03:31.234 --> 00:03:34.304
- But to say yes to you.
- 00:03:34.304 --> 00:03:35.872
- Believing that you will meet us.
- 00:03:35.872 --> 00:03:38.408
- Lord, would you show us today a place
- 00:03:38.408 --> 00:03:41.277
- Where you want us to say yes, even if we're afraid?
- 00:03:41.277 --> 00:03:44.881
- We thank you in jesus name. amen.
- 00:03:44.881 --> 00:03:44.881
