FAITH VS FEAR: WITHOUT FAITH WE CANNOT PLEASE GOD

WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF FAITH?

Whether you're a believer or an unbeliever, you may have heard the word faith before but never really stopped to think about what it means. Maybe you've heard it many times but haven't taken the time to understand it, or perhaps you know what faith is but haven't been completely sure how to put it into action, especially when life gets difficult, the tough gets tougher, and you feel like throwing in the towel.

So, what happens when faith and fear meet face-to-face? When fear tells you to stop, but faith is calling you to keep moving forward? Let’s dig deeper into what the Bible teaches us about faith and fear, how they influence the way we respond to life’s challenges, and what it really means to choose faith when everything around us seems to be telling us otherwise.

WHERE DID I FIRST LEARN ABOUT FAITH?

If you asked me where I first learned about faith, I would say it began at home. My father was the one who first brought the Christian faith into our family, and from what I understood growing up, faith was centred on Jesus Christ. But knowing where I first heard about faith still leaves us with a bigger question: What does faith actually mean?

Hebrews gives us a biblical description: “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen...” - Hebrews 11:1 (AMP).

In simple terms, faith is believing and trusting God even when we cannot see everything that lies ahead. It is more than simply saying, “I believe.” Faith means placing our confidence in who God is, believing His Word, and trusting Him enough to follow where He leads - even when we cannot yet see where the journey will take us.

FAITH TRUSTS GOD

So, what does it actually mean to have faith and trust God? Faith and trust are deeply connected. In the New Testament, one of the main Greek words translated as faith is pistis (Strong’s G4102), which carries the idea of faith, belief, trust, confidence, and faithfulness. The related Greek word pisteuō (Strong’s G4100) means to believe, have faith in, or trust in. This helps us understand that biblical faith is more than simply acknowledging that God exists. Faith involves placing our confidence in God and relying upon who He is. We believe Him, trust His character, and depend upon His Word, wisdom, and faithfulness.

We also see this idea in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word emunah (Strong’s H530) carries the sense of firmness, steadfastness, fidelity, and faithfulness and comes from the Hebrew root aman (Strong’s H539), which carries the idea of being firm, established, supported, or faithful. Biblical faith, then, is not simply wishful thinking or hoping strongly enough that something will happen. It is rooted in the One we are placing our faith in. So while faith and trust are closely connected, we can think of it this way: faith is believing in and placing our confidence in God, while trust is the reliance upon God that flows from that faith. In other words, I have faith that God is faithful; therefore, I can trust Him with what I cannot see or control.

This does not mean we will always understand what God is doing, nor does it mean every situation will turn out exactly the way we want it to. There may be times when fear tells us to panic, doubt tells us that God has forgotten us, or circumstances make us question what will happen next. Faith brings us back to who God is. We may not understand the situation or know the outcome, but we can continue to trust God, seek His wisdom, obey His Word, and place what we cannot control into His hands. Our confidence is not in our ability to control the outcome; our confidence is in God. That is what we mean when we say: FAITH TRUSTS GOD.

FAITH TAKES ACTION

Trusting God is not only about what we believe; eventually, that trust should influence the way we live. Genuine faith moves beyond words and becomes visible through action. James 2:17 teaches us that faith without works is dead. In other words, there comes a point when what we believe requires us to take a step. You can believe that God will guide you, but eventually you have to walk. You can pray for an opportunity, but when the opportunity comes, you may have to step through the door. You can ask God for direction, but when He gives direction, faith responds with obedience. And sometimes that step will come with fear. Faith does not always mean that we feel completely confident or comfortable before we move. Sometimes faith simply says, “Lord, I am afraid, but because I trust You, I will take the next step.”

FAITH VS FEAR

So, what happens when fear shows up in the middle of that step? Many people know what fear feels like. We have seen it portrayed through terror and horror, but fear does not always appear dramatically. Sometimes fear is quiet. It can sound like, “What if I fail? What if God doesn't come through? What if people laugh at me? What if I lose everything? What if I make the wrong decision?”

The Bible uses different words for fear depending on the context. One Greek word is phobos (Strong's G5401), which can refer to fear, dread, terror, or reverence, depending on how it is used. The related verb phobeō (Strong's G5399) means to fear, be afraid, or show reverence. This is important because not every use of the word fear in Scripture means the same thing. The fear of the Lord, for example, speaks of reverence and awe towards God, while other passages address the kind of fear that can trouble us, intimidate us, or influence the way we respond. So, when we talk about faith versus fear, we are not talking about reverence for God. We are talking about those moments when being afraid begins competing with our willingness to believe God and obey what He has called us to do. Faith does not necessarily mean fear disappears before we take a step. Sometimes the question is whether fear will control our response or whether we will continue forward in obedience to God.

I experienced this myself when it came to launching this blog site. There were questions running through my mind: What will people think? What if no one reads it? What if it doesn't turn out the way I expect? What if I get it wrong? Fear gave me plenty of reasons to hesitate, but faith required my obedience. In the middle of those questions, I had to remind myself why I was doing this in the first place. As followers of Christ, we are called to advance God's Kingdom and allow the light He has placed within us to be seen, not hidden away because of fear. Jesus taught that no one lights a lamp and then hides it under a bed; instead, it is placed where its light can be seen (Luke 8:16). That challenged me to ask myself: Am I going to hide what God has given me because I am afraid of the outcome, or am I going to obey Him and allow Him to use it for His purpose?

I came to realise that the outcome was not the first thing I needed to focus on, obedience was. If God was instructing me to launch this blog site, then my responsibility was to listen and respond. My part was to obey... the outcome belonged to God. Regardless of what happened afterwards, I needed to take that step and leave the results in His hands.

That is often where the battle between faith and fear takes place. Fear draws our attention towards everything that could go wrong, while faith brings us back to the question: What has God asked me to do? Second Timothy 1:7 teaches that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. The question then becomes: What will you allow to lead you? Will fear determine your decisions, or will you obey God despite being afraid?

If left unchecked, fear can also develop into worry and anxiety. We begin thinking about what might happen tomorrow, next week, or even years from now, and before we know it, our minds are carrying situations that have not even happened. First Peter 5:7 tells us to cast our cares upon God because He cares for us. We do not have to carry tomorrow's fears today. We can bring what concerns us before God and leave it in His hands.

Faith means knowing where to take your fear.

WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT

So, once we have brought our fears before God, how do we continue moving forward when we still cannot see what lies ahead? This is where we learn what it truly means to walk by faith and not by sight.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God's promises].” - 2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP)

Walking by sight says, “I need to see it before I believe it.” Walking by faith says, “God, I may not be able to see the whole picture, but I will continue to follow You.” We may want God to reveal the entire journey before we move, but there will be times when He simply shows us the next step. This is why Hebrews 11:6 teaches us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Our relationship with Him requires faith. We come to Him believing that He exists, we place our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, we believe His Word, and we learn to follow Him even when the outcome remains unseen. Faith is not confidence in ourselves or in our ability to work everything out. Faith is confidence in God.

WHEN THE TOUGH GETS TOUGHER

But walking by faith does not mean the road will always become easier. So, what happens when the tough gets tougher? What happens when you have prayed and nothing seems to change? What happens when you stepped out in faith and suddenly things became harder? What happens when you are tired and feel like throwing in the towel?

This is where faith becomes more than something we talk about, it becomes something we live out. It is one thing to have faith when everything appears to be going according to plan, but another to remain steadfast when the answer has not arrived, the circumstances have not changed, and the road ahead still does not make sense. God's faithfulness is not dependent upon everything in our lives going according to our plans.

Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us of God's compassion and faithfulness, which are new every morning. Our circumstances may change, but who God is does not. Sometimes we need to look back and remember what God has already brought us through. Remember the prayers He has answered, the doors He has opened, and the times He sustained you when you thought you could not continue. And even in the places where you are still waiting for answers, hold onto this truth: God's character has not changed.

A REMINDER & ENCOURAGEMENT

Maybe today you find yourself standing between faith and fear. Fear may be showing you everything that could go wrong, while faith is calling you to remember who God is and place your trust in Him. You may not know what the next ten years will look like, have every answer today, or understand every detail of God's plan, and you don't have to. If there is one thing I want you to take away from this, it is this: do not allow fear to stop you from obeying what God has called you to do. The outcome may be unknown, the road may feel uncomfortable, and circumstances may not unfold the way you expected, but you can still choose to trust the One who called you.

When fear tells you to give up, keep trusting. When uncertainty tells you to stop, keep seeking God. When circumstances tell you there is no way forward, remember that your sight is limited, but God's sight is not. So keep praying. Keep trusting. Keep obeying. And keep walking. Because the Christian life was never meant to be lived according to what we can see alone. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP)

REFLECT 📝

Take a moment to reflect honestly on where faith and fear may be influencing your life and purpose:

• Where has fear been influencing my thoughts or decisions?

• What am I struggling to trust God with right now?

• Am I waiting to see the outcome before I am willing to obey God?

• What truth from God's Word do I need to remind myself of in this season?

• Has fear been holding me back from something God has placed on my heart or called me to do?

• What step of faith can I take today towards walking in God's purpose for my life?

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Don't stop at reflection. Take what you have identified and bring it before God in prayer. Write down the fear, situation, or decision you are struggling with, then search Scripture for truth that speaks to it. Ask God for wisdom, be led by the Holy Spirit, and examine whether the step you are considering is consistent with His Word.

If God has already made something clear through Scripture, respond with obedience. If you are still unsure, do not rush simply because you feel pressured to act. Continue praying, studying God's Word, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, seeking godly wisdom, and allowing time for clarity. The Holy Spirit will never lead us in a way that contradicts God's Word.

Then identify one practical step you can take. It may be having a conversation, starting something you have been putting off, forgiving someone, asking for help, waiting instead of forcing an outcome, or simply choosing not to allow fear to make the decision for you.

You do not need to see the entire journey before taking the next faithful step. Bring your fear to God, stand on His Word, be led by the Holy Spirit, obey what He has made clear, and trust Him with what comes next.

BEFORE YOU GO

If you are a believer and recognise areas where fear or unbelief have been influencing you, bring them before God. Allow His Word to renew your thinking, be led by the Holy Spirit, and continue growing in faith and obedience. And if you do not yet know Jesus Christ, this is where faith begins. Scripture teaches that we have all sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). He calls us to repent and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15), and salvation is God's gift of grace received through faith, not something we can earn through our own works (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Through Jesus Christ there is forgiveness, reconciliation with God, salvation, and new life. Turn towards Him, place your faith in Him, and begin your journey of walking with Christ. Whatever season you are in, may your faith be centred on Jesus Christ, your life guided by His Word and the Holy Spirit, and everything you do ultimately bring glory to God.

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A PRAYER FOR YOU🕊️

Father, thank You for being faithful and trustworthy. Help me when fear becomes louder than my faith. When I cannot see what lies ahead, remind me that You can.

Teach me to trust You with all my heart and not depend entirely on my own understanding. Help me to believe Your Word and respond with obedience when You call me to move, even when I do not know what the outcome will be.

When I am anxious, remind me to bring my cares to You. When I feel like throwing in the towel, give me the strength to keep going. Where fear has caused me to hesitate or hold back, give me the courage to move forward in faith.

Help me to walk by faith and not by sight, and to walk in the purpose You have for my life. May my confidence be found not in myself, my circumstances, or what I can see, but in You alone. May everything You have entrusted to me ultimately be used for Your glory and the advancement of Your Kingdom.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

BE ENCOURAGED.

ALL GLORY TO GOD MOST HIGH 🔥

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