CHAPTER 1

FROM AFRAID TO COURAGEOUS

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, butthe triumph over it. The brave man is not he who doesnot feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

—Nelson Mandela

PICTURE A BATTLEFIELD. THE PHILISTINES HAVE GATHERED THEIR ARMYfor battle on one side of the mountain; the Israelites are gatheredon the other. Between the two armies lies a valley.

But there is far more than a valley separating Israel fromvictory. Yes, a giant named Goliath—a seasoned, undefeatedchampion—towers over them.

And yet, something even more dangerous than theindomitable giant stands in their way. What could possiblystrike more fear in their hearts than this unconquered foe? Amessage that evokes insecurity, an even more insurmountableopponent—the label stitched in Israel's heart: "Afraid." Itsmessage has been ingrained so deeply that fear has paralyzedthem and robbed them of the ability to seize their destiny.

In the days of ancient Israel, wars were sometimes settledwhen the two champions from rival armies fought to thedeath. The victor and his people would then enslave theiropponents. For forty days, Goliath demanded that an Israelitefight him, but none stepped up. No man from Israel had thecourage to enter the valley and fight on behalf of his nation.Not a single one was willing to defend God's honor.

For a while it appeared that fear had won the day. EachIsraeli soldier had surrendered his destiny because he'd acceptedthe "Afraid" label and allowed it to produce such fear in himthat even living as a slave became an acceptable alternative totaking up arms.

Then God sent David.

DAVID WAS DIFFERENT

The daily routine of Goliath's challenge to Israel and theirrefusal to rise to the occasion continued—until one day, whena boy named David arrived on the scene. The lad showed upbelieving his assignment was to see how his brothers, soldiersin Israel's army, were doing. Little did David know that Godhad a plan in sending him. The God of Israel was gettingready to rewrite history.

As David was checking on his brothers, the teenager heardGoliath challenge the armies of the living God. These tauntspierced David's heart, and he was stunned that no man fromthe nation of Israel would accept Goliath's challenge.

But David was different. Though limited by size, experience,and strength, he accepted the giant's invitation to battle.

Goliath seemed superior to David on all fronts, so whydid the teen respond to the call? What made David think hewould fare any better than every man in Israel's army? Heresponded because he was courageous. Instead of allowingthe label "Afraid" to define him, he permitted the life-givinglabel "Courageous" to guide him. David knew who he wasand whose he was, and therefore he knew how to be courageous.David had a firm grasp on his identity as a child ofGod, and it was his faith in that label that enabled him toact—and history was changed.

The "Afraid" label produces fear. And fear is a thief thatsteals the courage of far too many, paralyzing and imprisoningthem in a life of mediocrity. I've not only seen it, I have experiencedit. My story is tattooed with "Afraid." Perhaps yoursis too.

FEAR OF REJECTION

My dad was nineteen when I was born. By the time I wassix, he was pretty much out of my life. I only saw him fromtime to time after that. My precious mom was seventeen,just a baby herself, when she gave birth to me. Yet for oneso young, her heart was already deeply wounded due to themany destructive labels painfully stitched into it. The damagethey'd inflicted was an ongoing struggle in her life, somy grandmother primarily raised me, and my grandfatherprovided for my physical needs.

As a little guy, I really couldn't process what was going onin my family. I just knew that Dad was not around and thatMom was in and out of my life. In my little child's mind, Iunderstood that certain people who should have been close tome were not consistently around, though I didn't know why.As early as I can remember, an "Afraid" label in my heart produceda fear of rejection. And it limited me.

Just like the Israelites, I was paralyzed by "Afraid." Icouldn't fight for my destiny because fear stood in the way. Bythe time I reached my early twenties, that label had become sofirmly affixed to my heart that I feared every relationship I hadwould end with rejection. I was consumed with thoughts suchas, Why let anyone get close to me when ultimately they will leaveme? I intentionally kept people at a distance. My heart was in asteel cage, and I wouldn't let anyone have the key.

FEAR OF NOT BEING "GOOD ENOUGH"

The "Afraid" label also produces the fear of not being goodenough. It certainly did for me. Despite my success as an NFLplayer, I never felt I measured up—in anything.

That fear started when I was about nine and tried out formy first football team. I still remember the coach calling outthe names of the players who made the cut. As he called outeach one, I waited to hear my name, but I never did.

One of the coaches approached me, and I remember tryingmy best to hold back the tears as he said, "You've got tocome back next year. You were not good enough this year."With that, the fear of never being good enough began lodgingitself in my heart. I wish just one person had told me,"Derwin, your value as a human is not in making a footballteam. You are valuable because God purchased your life withthe life of His Son."

Although I did not make the first team I tried out for,I developed an insatiable work ethic from the experience. Itpropelled me to work hard as a high school...