In one way or another, fear is a part of everyone’s life. Sadly, fear still affects us and can paralyze us if we are not careful. Fear can prevent us from being the person the Lord has called us to be. Fear is something that the Lord does not want us to experience.
Indeed, it is crucial to have the fear of the Lord, but the issue is when you fear everything else. Fearing the Lord is a good thing. This indicates that we hold God in high regard. It indicates our admiration and respect for Him. When our fear of other things becomes so great that it consumes us, we have to take back our authority.
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
🚦 Lose the wait
In order to see God go to work, Gideon had to step over the line of fear and get out of the winepress. He had to decide to trust God and take the bold step God had asked him to take. He had to do some things that were surely uncomfortable for him. He had to lose the wait and be obedient to the go. It’s in the obedience that brings the strength.
The same is true for you and me. With faith and trust, we have to do whatever it is God is asking us to do. The moment we start moving in that direction, we find ourselves receiving all the strength we need. We find that God is with us. We must learn that fear is a feeling, and we can overcome fear through making the decision to trust and obey what God is asking us to do. That’s where faith comes in. Faith should activate our actions.
⏳ The Trap of Waiting
It is so easy to get stuck waiting. Waiting for people to believe in us. Waiting until we get to a place of strength. Waiting to feel more qualified. Waiting for the economy to improve. Waiting for just the right circumstances.
We have to lose the wait. Start moving in the direction of your God-given dreams and desires. It’s the only way to see brighter days.
This idea of active faith, rather than passive waiting, is echoed throughout scripture. James cuts to the heart of the matter:
“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?… Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”
— James 2:14, 26 (NLT)
Faith isn’t just a belief we hold; it’s a power that propels us forward.
☀️ The Marine Layer: Your Fog Isn’t Everywhere
Many times we allow the fogs of life fool us. We look around and just see fog, gloom, or discouraging circumstances. Thoughts whisper, “It’s permanent. You’ll never get well. Never meet the right person. Never get the breaks to accomplish the dream.” But what we can’t see is it’s just a season. Just a little further, there are sunny skies. Favor, good breaks, the right people, new opportunities.
Don’t let the fog fool you. Don’t let the dark clouds convince you to stay where you are. Take some steps of faith. Go a little further, try another option, do something you haven’t done. That fog you’re under may not move just yet, but it’s not everywhere. When you go in the strength you have, you’ll discover the brighter days that will move you into your destiny.
🌱 Motion is the Antidote: Open the Curtains
I once talked with a woman who was overwhelmed by depression after her husband left her unexpectedly… She was paralyzed by the fear of never being happy again. It felt so real that she couldn’t even get out of bed. She began spending day after day in a darkened bedroom with the door shut… Then one day, at a friend’s encouragement, she made just one tiny little move. She summoned all her strength and will and… opened the curtains. That’s it. Just the smallest and simplest of steps. She let the sun in.
Soon, seeing some blue sky and green leaves got her to a place where she could take a walk. A few walks led to conversations and coffee and other little joys of everyday life. She gained more strength and began to hope again. She simply started moving. A few little steps led to bigger steps and soon her smile was back… Today she’s flourishing.
Things wouldn’t have turned around like they did, if she hadn’t used the strength she had and taken that first step.
This principle is powerful because it aligns with how God designed us for growth. We often think we need to feel ready before we act, but God’s pattern is often the reverse. As we see in the story of the Israelites entering the Promised Land, sometimes the miracle happens mid-step.
“And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
— Joshua 3:13 (NIV)
The water didn’t part while they were camped safely on the shore. It parted only when the priests’ feet touched the river’s edge. Their movement activated the miracle.
🚶♀️ Your First Step Awaits
How about you? Are you waiting to feel stronger, more prepared, or better situated before you step out? Maybe it’s time to lose the wait.
You need energy to be strong, and energy exists when something is moving. Simply put, you can’t grow stronger until you get going.
If you feel stuck, take a step. Even the smallest step can get you moving toward a better future.
- Open a window.
- Make that phone call.
- Ask that question.
- Do that thing that seems like just a little bit of a stretch.
- Face that task that intimidates you a little.
That’s how you build your strength and confidence. That’s how you start believing in yourself again. From where you stand today, each day may seem cloudy, dreary, and shrouded in fog, but I can assure you that there are clear skies and sunshine only a short distance away.
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