When Fear Is Writing Your Story
Fear rarely announces itself.
It’s deceptive.
It disguises itself as caution.
It sounds like wisdom.
It tells us to wait a little longer.
Play it a little safer.
Think about it a little more.
And by all means, don’t do anything risky.
Before long, fear is no longer influencing your story.
It’s writing it.
The Many Faces of Fear
Fear comes at us in many different ways.
It can be the fear of failure.
The fear of disappointment.
The fear of rejection.
The fear of not measuring up.
The fear of making the wrong decision.
The fear of looking foolish.
The fear of not knowing enough.
The fear of what other people might think.
Whatever form it takes, fear has one goal:
To keep us from moving forward.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that fear is rarely as obvious as we think it is.
Most of us imagine fear showing up as panic.
But that wasn’t how fear first showed up in my life.
For me, fear looked responsible.
It looked reasonable.
Practical.
Even spiritual.
That’s what makes it so deceptive.
When Fear Wears a Disguise
Fear whispers things like:
“Maybe next year.”
“Wait until you know more.”
“Wait until you have more money.”
“Wait until everything is lined up.”
“Wait until you’re more prepared.”
Sometimes those are wise considerations.
Other times, they’re simply fear wearing a disguise.
The challenge is learning the difference.
Planting a Church and Facing My Own Fear
I remember the fear I felt as we prepared to plant Coast Community Church.
Looking back now, I can laugh at some of it.
But at the time, it felt very real.
There was a little imposter syndrome.
Maybe I’m not good enough.
Maybe I’m not smart enough.
Maybe I’m not friendly enough.
Maybe I’m not the right person for this.
Then came all the practical questions.
What if people don’t come?
Where will the money come from?
What about the legalities?
Where will we meet?
How will all of this actually work?
Fear showed up in question after question after question.
If I’m being honest, some days those questions felt louder than my faith.
The interesting thing is that none of those questions were completely unreasonable.
Starting a church was a risk.
Following God’s calling often is.
The issue wasn’t whether fear had a voice.
The issue was whether fear got the final word.
What Kept Me Moving Forward
Looking back, I realize what kept me moving forward wasn’t confidence.
I honestly didn’t have all the answers.
I couldn’t see the whole path.
And I certainly couldn’t see how everything would work out.
But what kept me moving forward was:
Calling.
Faith.
Trust.
I knew God had placed that dream in my heart.
I believed that if He called me, He would show me how.
And I trusted Him with the answers I didn’t yet have.
That’s what courage often looks like.
Not the absence of fear, but the decision to move forward even when fear is present.
Fear Has Probably Shown Up in Your Story Too
If you’re honest, there’s a good chance fear has shown up in your life as well.
Maybe it has kept you from pursuing a dream.
Maybe it has kept you from having an important conversation.
Maybe it has kept you from stepping into a new opportunity.
Maybe it has convinced you that you’re not qualified.
Not ready.
Not capable.
Fear has a way of making us believe that staying where we are is safer than moving forward.
The problem is that staying stuck has a cost too.
So what do we do when fear starts writing our story?
Let me offer a few practical thoughts.
1. Acknowledge the Fear
The first step is simply being honest.
Fear loses some of its power when we identify it.
Pretending it isn’t there doesn’t help.
Ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear.
Acknowledge it.
Name it.
Be honest about what you’re afraid of.
Sometimes fear sounds much less convincing once we drag it into the light.
2. Tell Someone
Fear grows in isolation.
It thrives in secrecy.
One of the most powerful things you can do is talk to someone you trust.
A spouse.
A friend.
A mentor.
A pastor.
A trusted voice who can help you gain perspective.
I’ve discovered that many fears sound convincing in our heads until we say them out loud.
Then we suddenly realize they aren’t nearly as powerful as we thought.
And that in itself is incredibly freeing.
3. Pray and Listen for God’s Direction
This is important.
Not every hesitation is fear.
Sometimes God really is telling us to slow down.
Sometimes He is protecting us.
Sometimes He is redirecting us.
That’s why prayer matters.
We need to learn the difference between fear saying, “Stop,” and God saying, “Wait.”
Spend time praying.
Spend time in Scripture.
Listen carefully.
Ask God for wisdom.
The goal isn’t simply moving.
The goal is moving in the direction God is leading.
4. Take the Step Anyway
Once you’ve prayed.
Once you’ve sought wisdom.
Once you’ve done what you can do.
Take the step.
Not recklessly.
Not foolishly.
But faithfully.
Most meaningful things in life require a step of faith.
It could be:
A new job.
A new ministry.
A restored relationship.
A new opportunity.
A God-given dream.
Fear will almost always show up somewhere along the journey.
Don’t let that surprise you.
The question isn’t whether fear will speak.
The question is whether fear gets the final word.
Fear vs. Faith
Fear will tell you to stay where you are.
Faith will invite you to move forward.
Fear will tell you what could go wrong.
Faith will remind you of who God is.
Fear will focus on what you don’t know.
Faith will focus on the One who does.
Take the Pen Back
So if fear has been writing your story lately, maybe it’s time to take the pen back.
Let faith write the next chapter.
Let trust write the next chapter.
Let God’s calling write the next chapter.
Because the life God has for you is often found on the other side of the fears you’re most tempted to obey.
And you’ll never discover what God can do through your life if fear is always making the decisions.
So acknowledge the fear.
Talk about it.
Pray through it.
Listen for God’s direction.
Then take the next step.
Because fear doesn’t get to write your story.
God does.
And your story isn’t over.
