Next in the line of things that can keep us stuck is…fear. Fear is something we all experience at one point or another. Fear is universal in that it crosses racial barriers, language limitations, as well as cultural and social rungs of the ladder. It does not discriminate. Fear can paralyze our decision making abilities, it can incapacitate us emotionally and can render us unable to move out from under our current situation and into the promises given by God.

Fear is a tool of the enemy of our souls meant to keep us in bondage to him and the lies he fills our heads with, that if given enough time we begin to believe in our hearts; and then those lies become the lens through which we view God and his promises. Instead of trusting God we live life out of our own strength and lose out on the power available to us to do immeasurably more than we are capable of doing on our own.

There are many types of fear. For example fear of failure, fear of success, fear of looking bad, fear of missing out, fear of not having enough, fear of rejection. Throughout the bible “fear not” and “do not fear” are written many times. Written so we can be assured of God’s sovereignty in any situation; his ability and desire to create an outcome that is good for us and brings him glory. He wants believers and non-believers alike to see his power displayed through us.

One of the greatest fears that keep us from experiencing God is the fear of trust. The “what if I trust him and he lets me down” idea is one born from being let down over and over by the ones that were suppose to love and protect us. Trusting in his goodness, his faithfulness, his love, his provision is daunting when in real time you’ve not had that experience with the people doing life with you. Getting to know someone, really know someone is the key to knowing if they can be trusted.

So how do you get to know God? It is really simple, read the bible. Not just parts of it. All of it. Yes it can feel intimidating but get a version you understand and feels natural to read. The word, his word – the bible is a complete picture of who God (Jesus & Holy Spirit) really are. Another way is to listen to other believers testimonies of God in their lives. This helps us see him in action; we can trust that if he will take care of them, he will us as well because his promises are for all who believe. Conversation is yet another way of getting to know someone over time. How we converse with God is through prayer. Prayer does not have to be lengthy or complicated. There is no formula, although the bible outlines some different kinds of prayer that is helpful for when you don’t know what or how to pray.

When we place our trust in him, open our hearts to him and believe in him inviting him to be our lord and Savior we gain so much. He says he will never leave us nor forsake us. Imagine. We have 24/7 access to someone who is all knowing, all powerful and present everywhere. He has our best interest in mind with every interaction, every situation we face and every obstacle we have to overcome. He loves us with a love that has no limitations. He knows us intimately because he formed us in our mother’s womb. He planned out every detail of our lives from the beginning to the end. He is sovereign and Holy, nothing is a surprise or to much for him; even our less than stellar decisions or the less than stellar decisions of others that may have hurt us deeply.

His heart is for us and if he is for us who then can be against us? In Isaiah the 43rd chapter he says we are the redeemed and that even when we go through trouble he is there. Over and over in his word it says to “take heart”, “Do not be afraid”, “fear not” attached to these are promises for every believer. Promises that he guarantees because he “is not a man that he should lie”. The bible is his word. It is him writing out his iron clad declaration of his unfailing love, his mercy, his grace, his provision for every situation, his protection, his sovereignty, his holiness, his faithfulness, his righteousness and so much more. Knowing this, we can live a life without fear because he can be trusted in all things and in everyway.

Copyright©2025 Melanie McKinley (The Salty Pen & Press).  All Rights Reserved