He Will Never Leave You: Joshua’s Journey Through Fear, Faith, and the Canyon of Courage

There was once a young man named Joshua who lived in a mountain village where courage was not just admired — it was expected. Every boy came of age by venturing into the canyon, a place of shadows, steep cliffs, and unknown dangers. They were not allowed to take weapons, only their wits and faith.

Joshua’s journey began with fear, but he took the first step anyway.

When Joshua’s time came, the elders placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “The path will test your strength, but more than that, it will test your heart. Remember the promise: he will never leave you.”

Joshua nodded, but his heart was already pounding. As the sun dipped behind the peaks, he stepped alone into the canyon. The path narrowed quickly, and silence pressed against him like a weight. Every crack of a branch or rustle of wind made him jump.

By nightfall, fear wrapped itself around his chest. He sat against a rock, trembling. “Why would they send me here alone?” he muttered. “What if something happens?” The stars above gave no answers. But somewhere in his spirit, a whisper came: You are not alone.

The next day, Joshua pressed deeper into the canyon. He slipped and scraped his leg on jagged stone. Hunger gnawed at him. Vultures circled overhead. He began to pray, not for strength to finish, but for the courage to take one more step.

He remembered the old stories — of men who faced lions, giants, armies. Not because they were fearless, but because they trusted God more than they feared the battle. “Be strong and courageous,” he whispered, remembering the words. “He will never leave you.”

That night, a storm rolled in. Lightning flashed against the canyon walls. Joshua found a shallow cave and huddled inside. He wept. Not from pain, but from the release of trying to carry everything on his own. “God, I’m scared,” he confessed. “But I’m still here.”

He didn’t conquer fear. He brought it to God.

The next morning, the rain had cleared. And so had something in his heart. Joshua stood with sore legs and swollen eyes, but he stood taller than he had before. He kept walking, not because he had figured everything out, but because he now knew God walked with him.

By the fourth day, the canyon opened up to a high ridge. From there, he could see his village far below. He laughed — not out of pride, but out of wonder. God hadn’t taken the fear away. He had carried Joshua through it.

When he returned, the village gathered. The elders asked, “What did you learn?” Joshua didn’t speak of the fear or pain or storms. He simply said, “He was with me every step.”

From then on, Joshua was known not as the strongest, but as the most steady. When others faced fear, they came to him. And he told them the same truth that had carried him through the canyon.

“You will be afraid. You will feel alone. But trust this — he will never leave you.”

What helps you move forward when fear tries to stop you?

• Scripture and prayer
• Remembering past victories
• Encouragement from others
• Taking the next step anyway