What's your worst fear? A fear of public failure, unemployment, or heights? The fear that you'll never find the right spouse or enjoy good health? The fear of being trapped, abandoned, or forgotten? These are real fears, born out of legitimate concerns. Yet left unchecked, they metastasize into obsessions.

The step between prudence and paranoia is short and steep. Prudence wears a seat belt. Paranoia avoids cars. Prudence washes with soap. Paranoia avoids human contact. Prudence saves for old age. Paranoia hoards even trash. Prudence prepares and plans. Paranoia panics. Prudence calculates the risk and takes the plunge. Paranoia never enters the water.

How many people spend life on the edge of the pool? Consulting caution. Ignoring faith. Never taking the plunge. For fear of the worst, they never enjoy life at its best.

Excerpt from Fear Not For I am with You Always by Max Lucado