It was the first spring after my friends moved into their new house. They uncovered their in-ground pool early to find something that resembled more of a pond than a place to swim. No matter; their youngest daughter could not wait for the water to warm or to clear up. Time and time again, she jumped off the diving board into the green pool water — likely under 60° — with abandon, laughter, and screams of delight.

From a safe distance away, I watched in wonder at her playfulness in spite of the water’s chill and darkness. I laughed and cheered every time she made another fearless leap into the great unknown.

It wasn’t long before the Lord spoke to my heart. Facing an uncertain future, I felt paralyzed by fear. I heard Him say, “You can jump, too! Trust me.” Her joyful giggles still rang in my ears. Could I follow the lead of this young girl into the dark waters? Could I face my fears with not only courage but also curious expectation?

“Do not fear” and “rejoice” are frequent commands throughout Scripture, which means they are not merely feelings, but actions and mindsets we must choose in the midst of our hardship. David asks in Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear?” (NIV). And James reminds us to “consider it an opportunity for great joy” when troubles come our way because that testing allows our endurance to grow (James 1:2-4 NLT).

If we lived by these truths alone, there should be no hesitation to step into the future. So, why is fear of the unknown still so consuming? I don’t have the answer to that “impossible” question, but I have picked up two tools as God teaches me to be “strong and very courageous.”

1. We must acknowledge that anxiety is as unavoidable as a flat tire or the seasonal flu. In the Sermon On The Mount, Jesus gives specific instructions for the worried heart. He notes how often we obsess over future problems and feared losses-what we will eat, drink, or wear. He reminds us in Matthew 6:34, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (ESV). By seeking His kingdom first and depending on Him for our daily bread, in other words, staying present, anxiety loses its seat at the head of the table.

2. We have to address our fear of the “dark” seasons. In the creation story in Genesis 1:5, we are told that “God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.'” Afterward, God declared all He had created to be “good.” If the night is good because He made it, then why do we fear it?

In her book, “Learning to Walk in the Dark,” Barbara Brown Taylor writes, “I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light, things that have saved my life over and over again, so that there is really only one logical conclusion. I need darkness as much as I need light.” This I have found to be true. In the blackest seasons of my life, though suffering left wounds and scars, I also experienced transformation and joy. My life was saved because I spent more time in His presence “in the night.” I’ll leave you with one last quote from Taylor: “New life starts in the dark. Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb, it starts in the dark.”

We see this happen all around us, especially in nature. The chrysalis enables a “night transformation” that allows a caterpillar to metamorphose into a butterfly. I want to want that-do you? With that said, it is my turn on the diving board. I take a deep breath and turn toward what I would rather run from. I am leaping into the unknown darkness with the strength and courage of one who knows she can choose something other than fear: curiosity and trust.

Jaclyn Gilbert is a student at Northeastern Seminary and the Program Manager at Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity. She is actively involved in her local faith community at City Alliance Church and contributes significantly to Restorative Retreats, a ministry providing a safe place for women to find soul care and rest in Jesus.