September week 2 reflection

Faith Over Fear

September Week 2 Reflection

When I began this week’s Scripture writing, I wasn’t quite sure where these verses were taking me. Our theme was Faith Over Fear, so at first I found myself looking for verses that simply told me not to be afraid. But as I continued writing, I realized I needed to look at these Scriptures differently.

Instead of only asking, “What does this verse say about fear?” I started asking different questions:

What was happening in this person’s life?
What might they have been afraid of?
What did they choose to do anyway?
Where did their faith show up?

Suddenly, I began to see the connection.

Abraham was called to leave what he knew and follow God without knowing exactly where he was going. David stood before Goliath when everyone else saw an impossible situation. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a fiery furnace and refused to turn away from God. Esther had to decide whether she would risk approaching the king to help save her people. Joshua was stepping into a responsibility that required courage. Elisha’s servant saw an army surrounding them and was overwhelmed by what was in front of him—until God opened his eyes to see what he could not see before.

These people weren't living in circumstances where fear would have been unreasonable. They had reasons to be afraid.

But fear wasn't allowed to make the decision for them.

That is what stood out to me this week. Faith doesn't always mean that we aren't afraid. Sometimes faith means choosing to trust God while we are still afraid.

We can feel uncertain and still trust Him.
We can feel overwhelmed and still take the next step.
We can see the circumstances in front of us and still believe that God sees what we cannot.

Psalm 56:3 says, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” I love that it doesn't say “if” I am afraid. It says “when.” Fear is something we may experience, but it doesn't have to determine what we do next.

Maybe that's what faith looks like sometimes—not the absence of fear, but the decision to keep following God in the middle of it.

As I look back over this week, I’m reminded that I don't have to wait until I feel completely fearless to move forward in faith. I can acknowledge the fear, bring it to God, and then ask, “What is the next step You are asking me to take?”

The people in these Scriptures didn't all face the same circumstances, and they didn't respond in exactly the same way. But they each give us an example of what it can look like to trust God when fear is present.

And maybe that's the encouragement we need this week:

You can be afraid and still have faith.
You can be uncertain and still trust God.
You can feel fear and still take the next step.

Faith doesn't always remove the fear.

Sometimes faith is simply choosing to follow God anyway. ❤️