Walking What We Preach

Life never gets easier. Forced to practice what she has preached for years, Carol S Bannon again sees how faith and trust go hand in hand. 

“Just do it”: a phrase forever immortalized by Nike. Ironically, I used to say those exact words to my children long before they became a global slogan. I said them whenever my kids were afraid to try. Afraid to try out for a team. Afraid to approach classmates who were teasing them. Afraid to sing in the choir, join the debate team, or tackle a complicated project because they might fail.

“Just do it,” I’d tell them. Because nothing is ever gained by standing still.

I wanted to encourage them to step outside their comfort zones, face their fears, and trust that the only way forward is to take that first step. I taught them that God was always near, guiding and protecting us through life's storms. It is the same timeless comfort God offered to Abram so long ago:

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield. I will make your reward very great.” (Genesis 15:1)

Of course, that advice applies to all of us — not just our children.

The Tables Turned

Fast-forward about twenty years. Now, my children are preaching those same words to their own kids. Worse yet, they are handing them right back to me on a silver platter.

“Mom, you and Dad need to do this,” they have insisted for over a year. Or, “Mom, Dad has been so sick. You need to do this for the both of you … If not now, when?”

But I take their advice about as well as they took mine all those years ago. Fair is fair, after all.

In this particular case, at this stage in my life, my fear was overwhelming. I was about to do something so far outside my comfort zone that it literally froze me in my tracks. Even my sleep was filled with nightmares of all the “what ifs.”

So I did what I have always advised my children to do: I turned to Him. For He is the One I have always told them is the only constant we can truly lean on.

“Why God? Why me? Why now?”

How many times do we utter those words in a lifetime? I can still visualize the exact places where I stood when those prayers escaped my lips. And make no mistake—those simple words are a deeply profound prayer, especially when they are followed by, “I need You.”

Not, “I need You to make this go away.” Or, “I need You to make my children understand.” Simply, “I need You to be with me.”

My sister once told me that it is in still waters where she finds her deepest communion with God. We all have that special, quiet place where we run to Him, and I know we try to teach our children to find theirs. But stepping outside your comfort zone feels anything but still. For me, it is quite the opposite. Yet perhaps that chaos is exactly what makes it a true leap of faith. It requires us to rely on the promise Moses described:

"The Lord will fight for you; you have only to keep still." (Exodus 14:14)

A Leap of Faith

As parents, we naturally pray for our children’s protection from harm. We pray for healing from illness, freedom from addiction, happiness, and peace as they grow into adulthood. But perhaps one of our greatest responsibilities is to teach them that, no matter where life takes them, they need God by their side. He alone knows what is best for them. He alone knows how the story ends. And because of His great love, He will never let them navigate the brokenness of this world alone.

In all my years, I cannot recall a single moment — happy, sad, peaceful, or angry — when I didn’t call on Him. Sometimes I have asked for physical healing. Other times, simply for the strength to endure a difficult situation. And oftentimes, just as I am doing right now, I ask Him to help me understand the answer to that familiar question: “Why me, Lord?”

What I want most for my children and grandchildren is not a life completely devoid of fear, disappointment, or uncertainty. Instead, I want them to have a deep, unwavering companionship with God. Because when they know they are never truly alone, they can face whatever life places before them. They can become exactly who God created them to be.

If I am honest, perhaps demonstrating that faith is the greatest gift I can give them — and the ultimate reassurance that I have done right by them.

So now, when fear takes root and I hear those familiar words echoing back to me — “Just do it” — I remind myself that I don't have to do it alone. I just have to take that first step. I need to show them by example that I do trust He will see me safely through.

No matter what.

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Copyright 2026 Carol Sbordon Bannon
Images: copyright 2026 Carol Sbordon Bannon, all rights reserved.