I was in my thirteenth year when I heard a voice from God to

The words of Joan of Arc, “I was in my thirteenth year when I heard a voice from God to help me govern my conduct. And the first time I was very much afraid,” are a window into the soul of a young girl who would grow into one of history’s most radiant and tragic figures. In this confession, given during her trial, Joan reveals the trembling beginnings of her divine calling. She admits both the majesty of her vision and the fear it inspired. For who among mortals, when confronted by the eternal, would not tremble? And yet, it was from this trembling that her courage was forged.

At its heart, the quote speaks of the mysterious moment when destiny first whispers to the soul. Joan, a peasant girl with no training in war or governance, suddenly found herself addressed by voices she believed to be from heaven. At first, she was overcome with fear, for divine calling often comes not with comfort, but with awe. Yet this fear did not paralyze her—it became the first step toward her transformation, from a humble child into a leader who would inspire armies and alter the course of nations.

The origin of this moment lies in the turbulence of 15th-century France, torn apart by the Hundred Years’ War. Joan, at only thirteen, claimed to hear the voices of saints guiding her to live a pure life, and later, to deliver her nation from despair. She was mocked and doubted, yet she obeyed the call. By seventeen, she stood before kings, led soldiers into battle, and turned the tide of history at Orleans. Her story is not simply that of visions, but of how a young soul responded to them—first with fear, and then with unshakable conviction.

History shows that those who are called often begin with fear. Consider the story of Moses, who trembled before the burning bush, doubting his worthiness to confront Pharaoh. Or the story of Muhammad, who, upon first receiving revelation, was shaken and unsure until his heart was steadied. Joan’s fear places her in the company of prophets and visionaries, those who understood that a divine call is both burden and blessing, both terror and light. For fear is the natural response when eternity touches the temporal.

The deeper wisdom here is that fear itself can be the threshold of greatness. Joan admits she was afraid, but she did not turn away. The voice instructed her to govern her conduct, to shape her life, to walk in virtue. Only later did this obedience unfold into the larger mission that would make her a legend. Her words teach us that divine or noble callings rarely arrive in comfort—they come as fire, unsettling and demanding. The fear is not a sign to retreat, but a sign that the call is real, for only the false calling flatters without shaking the soul.

To the seekers of wisdom, let this truth sink deep: when you hear a voice within urging you toward higher conduct, do not despise the fear that follows. It is the trembling of the heart before something greater than itself. Do not mistake this fear for weakness. It is the first step of courage, for courage is not the absence of fear, but the choice to move forward despite it. Joan’s life reminds us that greatness begins not in fearlessness, but in obedience to a higher vision that fear cannot silence.

The practical lesson is this: listen for the voice that calls you toward a higher life. It may not come from heaven, but from conscience, from duty, from the needs of your people or your family. When it comes, you may be afraid, for it will ask more of you than you thought possible. Do not flee. Begin by governing your conduct, by shaping your daily actions with integrity, and the greater mission will reveal itself in time.

Thus, let Joan’s words endure as both confession and command: fear may accompany the call, but it does not diminish it. It sanctifies it. For from fear can arise faith, and from trembling can come triumph. And so we pass this lesson to future generations: when the voice of destiny calls, listen, even if you are afraid. For from the courage to heed that voice is born the power to change the world.