You Can Love God Deeply And Still Feel Afraid.
Feeling fear is normal. God designed our bodies in such marvelous ways. He even equipped us with emotions to help us express ourselves to Him, to others, and to ourselves.
Our emotions help us react and respond to the world around us. In healthy ways, emotions can protect us, warn us, and help us process life honestly.
But fear is one emotion that can slowly lead us toward anxiety if we are not careful.
Fear Is a Human Emotion
Having a healthy form of fear is not unreasonable. Fear keeps us from walking out in front of traffic. It keeps us from touching a hot stove and can even cause us to stop in our tracks when we see a snake!
Fear itself is not the problem.
Following fear is where the struggle begins.
Feeling Fear vs Following Fear
Following fear happens when we allow our imaginations to spiral into endless “what if” thoughts. When we dwell on fearful possibilities long enough, fear can slowly grow into anxiety.
I’m not a brain expert, but I do have a personal experience I want to share with you.
The Car Accident That Changed Me
One afternoon, while driving home from getting my hair cut so I could pick up Mike and the boys for a preschool soccer game, a car crossed the center line and hit me head-on.
Thankfully, we were both driving slowly on a neighborhood street, and I wasn’t seriously injured.
Everything felt like slow motion.
As I sat there in shock, I quickly took inventory of my body and realized I was okay.
But just as I was trying to get out of the car, the man who hit me rushed toward me in anger.
His face was as red as his cherry-red Corvette, and his eyes revealed rage. He tried to open my car door, and before I could escape through the passenger side, he grabbed my ankle and tried to pull me back toward him.
Panic. Fear. Shock. Disbelief.
I remember screaming for neighbors to help me.
Thankfully, people nearby came to help, and I was ushered into a friend’s house while the police arrived. Mike came to get me, and it felt like I shook for hours afterward.
By God’s grace, I was physically unharmed.
I even made it to the soccer game later that day, but internally, I felt overwhelmed and unsure if I was truly safe anymore.
Choosing Peace in the Middle of Panic
A short time later, we were on a road trip to visit my parents in another state. We stopped at a gas station, and I stayed in the car while our boys slept in the backseat.
That’s when I felt it.
Fear.
Slowly forming in my thoughts… then in my body.
As I looked around, my mind immediately began imagining someone walking toward the car. I quickly locked the doors and tried to calm the panic rising inside of me.
Then I whispered a simple prayer:
“Dear Jesus, be with me.”
That simple prayer helped calm my heart just as Mike returned to the car and we continued on our way.
The Fruit of Peace
I’m thankful for the peace I experienced that day, but sometimes peace doesn’t come instantly.
Sometimes we must choose, over and over again, not to follow fear.
Fear is real.
But it’s not always the facts.
That day at the gas station, I had to choose peace repeatedly until the “what if” thoughts finally settled down.
Feeling afraid is human. But we were never meant to let fear rule our minds and lives.
Choosing peace is where courage becomes real. It’s the result of abiding in Christ.
💙 I understand that some women battle deep anxiety that may require counseling, support, or medical care. There is no shame in seeking help while also seeking God.
Courage Is Not the Absence of Fear
Sometimes courage looks quiet.
Sometimes courage is simply trusting God in faithful obedience.
Sometimes courage means acknowledging fear while still choosing peace.
In moments like these, I often return to Paul’s words in Philippians:
“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:6–7
Paul wasn’t pretending fear and anxiety didn’t exist. Instead, he was teaching believers what to do with those emotions.
Pray.
Bring everything to God with thanksgiving.
And what is the result?
The peace of God guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
How Faith Redirects Fear
Fear may be a natural emotion, but allowing fear to rule us is a choice.
When fear tries to overtake our thoughts, we can learn to walk in quiet courage by trusting God and abiding in His Word.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God…”
— Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
Faith Redirects Our Thoughts
When my mind begins worrying about our prodigal son, fear can quickly start to rise within me.
That is when I intentionally redirect my thoughts in prayer.
“Dear Jesus, thank You for the son You’ve allowed me to raise. He belongs to You, and I know You love him even more than I do. I release control to You, and I trust You to bring my son home to Your heart.”
In those moments, I choose faith over fear.
I choose the fruit of peace instead of living with a mind full of chaos.
I choose to abide in Christ.
Choosing Faith Over Fear Today
Fear will try to speak loudly.
But the fruit of the Spirit is…peace.
You don’t have to pretend fear is absent in order to walk by faith. You can acknowledge fear honestly while still choosing to trust the Lord one step at a time.
YOUR TURN:
What fear are you surrendering to God today?
Leave a comment and declare “FAITH” as your reminder to trust Him over fear this week.
