Podcast Summary: The Daily Blade – Ep #226
Josh Howerton // The Hard Thing You’re Afraid To Do, Done Anyway
November 12, 2025

Overview

In this powerful episode, guest pastor Josh Howerton (Lake Point Church, Dallas) joins hosts Joby Martin (Church of Eleven22) and Kyle Thompson (Undaunted.Life) to explore what it truly means to “act like men” in light of 1 Corinthians 16:13–14. Focusing on biblical courage, Josh discusses the misconceptions around fear, faith, and manhood—drawing from personal experience and Scriptural examples to encourage listeners to face their fears and obey God’s calling courageously.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context: Paul’s Five Commands to Men of God

• Josh introduces the third of Paul’s five commands: “act like men.”
• Other translations render it “be courageous,” underlining that courage is central to biblical manhood.
• The misconception: Many Christians believe faith and fear cannot coexist, leading to unwarranted guilt and missed opportunities for obedience.

2. Vulnerability: Josh’s Personal Battle with Fear (01:57 – 05:21)

• Josh opens up about the severe anxiety attacks he endured after becoming pastor at Lake Point, following a celebrated predecessor.

  “A hell that I do not wish on my worst enemy.” (Josh Howerton, 03:34)

• Despite his crippling fear, he continued to preach weekly, sometimes vomiting before going onstage.
• He describes hearing worship songs declaring “faith and fear can’t coexist” and the subsequent guilt, feeling his fear invalidated his faith.

  “If that’s true, then I guess I don’t got any faith right now.” (Josh Howerton, 04:25)

• A wise pastoral friend reframed his struggle, calling it courage:

  “Josh, I think what God sees when you walk on that stage is he sees a man of courage. And that when you step up there all of heaven is rejoicing and applauding for what you just did.” (05:05)

3. Redefining Biblical Courage (05:21 – 06:55)

• Faith does not eliminate fear—it overrides it:

  “If you don’t have any fear, you don’t really even need any faith. …Faith is not the absence of fear. It’s the willingness and decision to trust God in the face of your fear and do it anyway.” (Josh Howerton, 05:40)

• Courage is acting despite fear, not without it.

4. Scriptural Example: Joshua Succeeds Moses (06:10 – 07:00)

• God commands Joshua (the Israelite leader) to “be strong and courageous” three times as he succeeds Moses (Joshua 1).
• The repetition signals that even bold leaders experience fear.

  “Because he felt weak and afraid. Weak and afraid. Weak and afraid.” (Josh Howerton, 06:45)

5. Practical Application: Fear as a Spiritual Barrier (07:01 – 07:28)

• Satan uses fear to deter believers from answering God’s call.
• Josh advises listeners to ask themselves:

  “What is the thing that you are afraid to do that you are uncomfortable having not yet done?” (Josh Howerton, 07:31)

6. The Ultimate Example: Christ in Gethsemane (07:35 – 08:00)

• Jesus himself experienced terror before the Cross but chose obedience for the Father’s glory.
• Listeners are challenged to follow Christ’s example and “do the hard thing they are afraid to do, done anyway.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Faith does not eliminate fear. It overrides it.” (Josh Howerton, 05:38)
• “I would get up there and I would walk up and preach anyway. I would do it scared.” (Josh Howerton, 04:42)
• “What God sees when you walk on that stage is…a man of courage.” (Josh Howerton, 05:05)
• “If you don’t have any fear, you don’t really even need any faith.” (Josh Howerton, 05:35)
• “Satan is a spirit of fear. Usually, the thing that Satan will use to keep you from stepping into whatever calling God has for you that day is fear.” (Josh Howerton, 07:15)
• “Our Lord Jesus Christ was terrified to go to the cross…but he knew he had specificity on what the thing was that he was afraid to do, but he was uncomfortable having not yet done.” (Josh Howerton, 07:40)

Important Timestamps

• 00:20 – 01:25 – Josh Howerton introduces the day’s topic
• 01:57 – 05:21 – Personal story: struggling with anxiety as a new pastor
• 05:21 – 06:55 – The true meaning of faith and courage
• 06:10 – 07:00 – God’s command to Joshua: “Be strong and courageous”
• 07:01 – 07:28 – Recognizing fear as a clue to your calling
• 07:35 – 08:00 – Jesus in the garden and the ultimate act of courage

Conclusion & Listener Challenge

• Listeners are encouraged to honestly identify the God-honoring action they’re afraid to take but unsettled leaving undone, and to do it despite fear—for God’s glory.
• Closing charge:

  “Today you move forward and you be watchful. You stand firm in the faith, you act like a man, you be courageous and you go do that thing. In Jesus name. Amen.” (Josh Howerton, 08:00)

For men seeking biblical courage, this episode of The Daily Blade offers both honesty and scriptural depth—reminding listeners that true faith shows up not when we’re fearless, but when we choose obedience even in the midst of fear.