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.
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| Sheila Walsh: Strength in the Face of Fear | 5 Minutes with Jesus | November 7, 2025
- When the israelites stood before the jordan river.
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- It was the second time they faced a body of water
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- As an obstacle.
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- You might remember god had parted the red sea
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- So that the people walked across on dry ground.
- 00:00:09.466 --> 00:00:13.002
- But before god parted the waters, this time
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- His people had to get their feet wet.
- 00:00:16.506 --> 00:00:19.609
- It was only as they stepped in, only as they took
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- That literal step of faith and trusted god
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- Then to depart the waters for them.
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- 1 of the best known verses on courage
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- Is found right at the beginning of the book of joshua.
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- The children of israel had wandered
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- In the desert for 40 years, and it was no time
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- To cross over into the land that god had promised them.
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- Moses had died,
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- And so now it was joshua's turn to lead the people.
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- And this is what god said to him, this is my command.
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- Be strong and courageous.
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- Do not be afraid or discouraged,
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- For the lord your god is with you wherever you go.
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- Has an interesting contrast in that verse.
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- Be strong.
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- Be courageous.
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- Don't be afraid. discouraged.
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- I remember where i was sitting when i got the news.
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- I was at the top of the hill across from the house
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- Where barry and i were renting in laguna beach, california.
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- We climbed that hill with bentley,
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- Our golden retriever, every morning and every evening.
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- Barry and i had been married for
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- About a year and a half at the time,
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- And i was turning 40 and i was pregnant.
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- So the climb took a little longer every day.
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- We were in a sweet place in our marriage, but financially
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- We were really struggling.
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- Barry had left one job and was looking for another
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- And our savings were rapidly disappearing.
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- But a couple of weeks before this evening hike,
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- I've been invited to lead
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- Worship at a conference called women of faith.
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- And honestly, i was tempted to say yes
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- Because it would mean regular income for at least a year.
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- But i knew that leading worship was not my gift.
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- So i thanked him, and i recommended
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- A woman i knew who would be perfect.
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- Lord, we are leaning on you and trusting you
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- For what we can't see.
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- That became our absolutely daily prayer.
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- Well then, as the sunset over the ocean one night, my
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- Cell phone rang.
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- The conversation again turned to that new conference for women.
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- And i said yes.
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- I had a call a couple of weeks ago,
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- But honestly, i'm not a worship leader.
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- But i've recommended somebody who'll be great.
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- That's not why i'm calling, said the person on the other
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- End of the line.
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- I want you to join the speaking team.
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- It felt like we'd just experienced a miracle.
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- God had opened a path to a financially impossible way.
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- Just as he'd opened the red sea before the israelites.
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- But god doesn't necessarily repeat miracles
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- When you find yourself at another impossible way.
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- After i'd been with my woman of faith team for 18 years,
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- I saw clearly the lord was saying, this is time to move on.
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- But what's next, lord?
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- I asked him, just this morning, would you show me
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- Where you want me?
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- Where do you want me to serve you next?
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- In my spirit.
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- All i could hear god say was this.
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- Step into the water.
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- But i want to be responsible, lord.
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- With bills to pay.
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- And a son about to go to college.
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- Step into the water.
- 00:03:25.561 --> 00:03:28.097
- When the israelites stood before the jordan river.
- 00:03:28.097 --> 00:03:30.767
- It was the second time they faced a body of water
- 00:03:30.767 --> 00:03:33.803
- As an obstacle.
- 00:03:33.803 --> 00:03:35.505
- You might remember god had parted the red sea
- 00:03:35.505 --> 00:03:37.573
- So that the people walked across on dry ground.
- 00:03:37.573 --> 00:03:41.110
- But before god parted the waters, this time
- 00:03:41.110 --> 00:03:44.614
- His people had to get their feet wet.
- 00:03:44.614 --> 00:03:47.717
- It was only as they stepped in, only as they took
- 00:03:47.717 --> 00:03:52.055
- That literal step of faith and trusted god then to
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- Depart the waters for them.
- 00:03:55.925 --> 00:03:57.727
- Are you in a place where god
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- Is calling you to a new place, a place of courage?
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- Just want to say, take a step.
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- God is with you.
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- Let's pray.
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- Father god, thank you that you never call us
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- To a place that you don't equip us to go.
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- But lord, sometimes you just ask us to take a step of faith
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- Before we can clearly see the road ahead.
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- I pray right now for anyone who finds himself in that place.
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- Lord.
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- Help us to know that we're following your will.
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- Hearing your voice, and help us to take
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- That first step in jesus name.
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- Amen.
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