Dear Abigail,
I am a really shy person and trying to talk to others about my faith is very difficult for me. I don’t want to be disobedient, but, like Jonah, I want to run. Is there any hope for me? How do I overcome my fear?
-Fraidy Cat

Dear Fraidy,

There is always hope for someone willing to be used by God! You can be confident that God will honor your obedience, even if you don’t immediately see the results.

You asked how to overcome fear. First, recognize that you are talking about what God has said and done, which takes the pressure off of you.

Second, preparation will smooth that tongue-tied feeling and build your confidence. Practice sharing your faith in five minutes or less with a trusted friend, family member, or even an animal. Then see if you can do it in three minutes or less, focusing on the main points.

Another strategy is to focus on some good thing God has done recently. Share it with a close Christian friend. Then share it the same way with others, highlighting God’s good work in it.

Every time you share about God will make the next time a little easier.

And if you fail, ask God for another chance; He gave one to Jonah! Don’t forget to pray for boldness, even the apostle Paul did that!

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:17-20)