Devotionals by Greg Laurie

Friday, October 23, 2026
Choosing Not to Fear

“Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18 nlt)

If anyone ever had reason to feel anxious or afraid, it was the apostle Paul. Here’s just a glimpse of what life was like for him, as told in the apostle’s own words: “Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:24-28 nlt).

One of the things that amazes me about Paul is that he always seemed to rise to the top of every situation and seize every opportunity to preach the gospel, no matter how frightening his personal circumstances were.

As we talked about in an earlier devotion, when Paul and Silas were thrown in prison, they began to sing praises to God at midnight. Later, an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, the doors flew open, and the prisoners’ chains fell off.  And then the very jailer who had chained them up and whipped them asked, “What must I do to be saved?”

When Paul was brought before the dignitaries of Rome, he wasn’t intimidated. When he stood before Felix, he talked about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. When he stood before Herod Agrippa II, Festus, and other dignitaries he asked, “Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8 NKJV). Later, addressing Agrippa directly, he asked, “Do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe” (Acts 26:27 NKJV). When he was transported as a prisoner on a ship, he didn’t let his fear get the best of him. Instead, he gained the respect of the captain, the crew, the soldiers, and the Roman centurion aboard the vessel.

Paul’s boldness was the logical outflow of his faith. He wrote, “Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18 nlt).

After his conversion, Paul still experienced fear and discouragement. But he repeatedly chose to trust God rather than allow those emotions to control him. The words he penned to the believers at Philippi seem always to have been true for him: “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11 nkjv).

Paul was fully convinced of the faithfulness of God and was sustained by that conviction. He chose to embrace boldness and contentment over fear. Let us do the same, with God’s help.

Reflection question: How can you choose boldness and contentment over fear in your life?

Copyright © 2026 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/vchal  

Greg Laurie is the pastor and founder of the Harvest churches in California and Hawaii and of Harvest Crusades. He is an evangelist, best-selling author, and movie producer. His latest film ‘Jesus Revolution,’ from Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, is now available on-demand worldwide.

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
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