Let’s learn not to fear together and then let’s teach our kids to grow to be fearless too.

Here is what God tells us about fear.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

God originally said those words to Joshua as he commissioned him to lead Israel into the Promised Land, but they are intended for today’s reader as well.

Here is more of what God said as recorded in Joshua 1:

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Notice two important things about how and why you shouldn’t fear:

1. You are commanded to not fear. The command to “be strong and courageous” and to “not be afraid” is repeated throughout this passage and throughout the Bible—not because you can handle things, but because God is with you in every situation.
2. Real success and fearlessness are both dependent on knowing God and doing what God commands.“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” When we know God’s Word, we understand the true definition of success. When we do God’s Word, we become successful. As we get into the habit of knowing and doing God’s Word, we become strong and courageous and our fears grow weaker.

Nothing wipes away fear more than trusting in the One who loves you the most. Put your full trust in Jesus and “cast all of your anxiety on him” (1 Peter 5:7).

We are called to develop our children in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man. This means teaching them about God’s goodness, taking them on adventures, and encouraging them to boldly seek their own adventures.

1. Teach Your Kids to Love Adventures.

Tell your children about your greatest adventures. Tell them stories of other people’s adventures, both real and fictional. Watch and read inspiring, adventure-filled movies and books like the Chronicles of Narnia.

The Bible is the best place to teach your kids about real adventure. It is full of people who knew God and took great risks in order to be obedient to what God called them to do—people like Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Ruth, David, Esther, Mary, Peter, Stephen, and Paul, just to name a few.

2. Take Your Kids on Adventures.

Take them hiking, climbing, or exploring. Find your way through the woods or through a new city without using your phone. Try water and snow sports—paddleboarding, surfing, tubing, jet skiing, snowboarding, skiing.

This quote by Bob Goff Inspired me to take each of my kids on an adventursome trip to celebrate their 10th birthdays.

I have taken my oldest three kids on a “10-Year-Old Trip.” These adventures have changed our relationships forever. For each boy, it was an overnight canoe trip to the Eleven Point River. Both turned into more of an adventure than we ever planned. I took my daughter to New York City for her 10-Year-Old Trip. While that was a much different trip, we also had a bit of a life threatening experience when we took a bicycle cab (complete with a disco ball) down 5th Avenue in rush hour. Of course, these adventure trips are not just for dads. Our 10-Year-Old Trips made such an impact on our kids that my wife later took each of our oldest children on a 13-Year-Old Trip.

3. Encourage Your Kids to Go on Adventures.

We can teach our children about boldness and take them on adventures, but we also have to encourage them to take their own adventures. We can encourage them to try new things and take age-appropriate risks. It’s never too early to jump further, run faster, bicycle farther, read deeper, play longer, laugh harder, or take more responsibility. See this month’s calendar and the attached list of simple challenges and bold adventures for ideas of how to encourage your children to be Bold Adventurers.

Of course we can take risks and gain things for ourselves, but those gains are nothing if we miss Jesus and his purpose for our lives. Matthew 13:44 says, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” This man took a huge risk with great joy! Why? Because he knew he had gained something of endless supply that would last forever. The same is true when we put all our trust in Jesus.

It is a responsibility and a joy to train our children to use what they have been given for God’s glory, so they learn to risk what they cannot keep to gain what they could never lose (as Jim Elliot famously said).

Have you taken bold adventures with your kids, or do you have ideas for future adventures? We’d love to hear some of your bold adventures in the comments section below.