Turn Your Fear Into Faith

Do you ever look at the week ahead and just want to say, "No thank you. I'm good. I'll pass."? Is your calendar or to do list filled with appointments, important meetings, sensitive conversations, emotionally charged decisions, or commitments that you just rather not have? Just thinking about all that has to be done makes us tired. Sometimes our natural response is to avoid, but why do we avoid? Other times we become paralyzed with inaction.

If we look deeply within and are honest with ourselves, we see we often avoid situations or tasks because we fear something. Many of us fear failure, rejection, being misunderstood, or maligned especially when it is our job or lifework that calls us to be put in such situations. We often associate our job performance with our personal value and measure our self-worth by how others view our ability to do our jobs which makes our busy calendars that much more weighty.

So, how do we overcome the natural urge to hide and avoid the trials we face?



Turn fear into faith. God calls us to pull from His strength and not rely on our own in 2 Timothy 1:7...God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. Debilitating fear is not from the Lord. We can call upon the Holy Spirit to give us the power to face our fears, overcome our foes, the love to overcome evil with good, and the discipline to persevere through the challenges we face. We have been given the power to turn fear into faith. We have to choose to do it.


Find courage in God by immersing in the Word. We learn in Romans 10:17, Faith comes from listening to the message of good news - the Good News about Christ. When we fill our minds with the promises of God, God fills our lives with the provisions we need. Doubt erodes our confidence, but God's promises inspire faith and hope. When we proceed with faith and hope, each task on our to do list is made lighter. Whether we quietly quote meaningful scripture in our own heads or take a moment to pray with fellow co-worker, we will be filled with God's confidence. In Isaiah 41:10 we are directed...Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Courage comes from trusting in the presence of God. Fear comes from feeling alone against a threat. God promises us that we are never alone. Meditate on His presence and not the problem.

Keep integrity in tact through honesty. When we worry about what others will think, we become ineffective. Many may choose to bend instead of standing strong when facing pressure. In 1 Peter 2:12 we are told ...Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world. Integrity keeps us from the trap of dishonesty and all the destruction that can result from taking an easier path. God has given us the ability to lead lives that honor Him. His word gives us understanding, discernment, and the motivation to choose the way of integrity. Choosing to act with integrity is not easy, and it may not bring immediate rewards, but we can be certain that it will one day be recognized. So, even when our decisions or actions are not popular or immediately understood, we can be confident that we have done what is pleasing to God.

Rest in God's strength and not on your own strength. King David says in 1 Chronicles 28:20, Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged by the size of the task, for the Lord God, my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Challenges that threaten us are the tools God uses to strengthen and mature us. As we endure, we gain greater wisdom, integrity, and the courage to face whatever comes our way. So, instead of being discouraged by the size of the task, we should be encouraged by the immense power of God. Nothing is too small for God. In Psalm 37:5 we are told... Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and he will help you. When we bring Him in the loop of our concerns and confide in Him, He commits infinite resources to us.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please helps us as we face work weeks that are full of weighty issues and important interactions. Help us to rely not on ourselves, but to fully place our burdens on You. Fortify us to stay strong and stand firm in doing what is good, right, and true even when it is not popular or understood. Guide our service and our work to bravely face each challenge with a joy and anticipation of your power and strength. Let us not have a fearful spirit. Instead fill us with a God Confidence to have each conversation or make each decision with courage. Make our work light as we share it with you. It is in your most awesome name we pray...Amen.