Brave on the First Day of School: God Did Not Give You a Scared Heart

Hey, Carpool Crew! Happy first day of school. I'm Pastor Justin, and before we jump in, let me give a big shout-out to Kaydence, Kinley and Savannah from Cabot, Arkansas. So glad you are riding with us this morning. And this episode is all about being brave when your stomach is telling you to run. You know that moment, standing outside a classroom you have never been in, your hand on the door, and your feet feel like they are glued to the floor? Yeah. We've all been there. Let's jump in with the one thing I want you to remember for the ride: God did not give you a scared heart. He gave you power, love, and a calm mind. Listen to this from 2 Timothy 1:7. Paul writes, "For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment." Sound judgment is just a fancy way of saying a calm, clear head, the opposite of panicking. Here is who got that letter. A young guy named Timothy, and he had a big job in front of him that had him nervous. He was young, and probably a little scared. So Paul, kind of like a coach, reminds him what God already put inside him. Then comes the part that lands. God did not hand you fear. He handed you three things instead: power, love, and a clear head. So if fear shows up on the first day, you can remember it did not come from God, which means you do not have to keep it. If Jesus were sitting next to you in the car right now, He would lean over and say, "You are not walking in there alone. I already went ahead of you, and I packed you with everything you need. Take a breath. Open the door." It is the first morning. You walk up to a door with a room number you have never stood in front of, and your feet feel stuck. So you take one slow breath, push the door, and walk in. Your new teacher looks up, smiles, and says, "Hi, I am so glad you are here." And just like that, the scary door turns out to be the hardest part, and you already beat it. Hey, this week, try these two things. First, when your stomach knots up at a door, take one slow breath and say it quiet: God, You go first. Then walk in. Second, tonight, tell a parent the one thing you are most nervous about this week. Saying it out loud to somebody who loves you makes it about half as scary. Hey, let's go back to that one thing I wanted you to remember for the ride. God did not give you a scared heart. He gave you power, love, and a calm mind. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if these little morning pep talks help your family, come follow us on Instagram for quick reminders you can show your kids during the week. And if your kid loves a good brave story, mark your calendar: Gideon drops Monday, August 24 on Heroes of the Bible, a kid who felt way too small and way too scared, until God called him a mighty warrior. Before you go, let's answer this question together. What is one moment this week where you can take a breath and let God go first? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.