As great as it would be to know all of the details of our lives, God didn’t design it that way. He calls us to walk by faith and not by sight. And when we do, many times, it can lead to fear of the unknown. This fear happens to all of us at some point in our journey, but we can overcome it!
Being afraid is not a sin, and it’s nothing to feel guilty about. In fact, guilt is such an unproductive emotion that it often contributes to our fears. You have to let it go and be free. We experience fear of the unknown because we like to prepare ourselves for things to come — even good things. Most people want the security of foreknowledge. And that’s natural but unrealistic. The sooner we accept that, the sooner we can let go of anxiety.
2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
We often rehearse what we want the future to look like so that we can make plans and set our own pace for life. But, this leaves God in the dark until we get into trouble and need His help. The Lord wants us to be led by His Spirit, and a lot of the time, that means trusting in the limited information that He chooses to reveal when needed.
Steps to overcoming the fear of the unknown:
The first step is to just acknowledge the fear and pray about it.
When Moses spoke to the Israelites and their soon-to-be leader, Joshua, as recorded in Deuteronomy 31:6, he said, “Be brave and strong! Don’t be afraid of the nations on the other side of the Jordan…” The first thing Moses did was acknowledge the presence of fear.
He understood that going from slavery to a land flowing with milk and honey was scary for them. A lot of times, we pray for deliverance but then when we get an opportunity to be free, we let our nerves get the best of us. This was such a huge transition in their lives, and now the only leader they’ve known since pharaoh says he can’t go with them. There must have been so many doubts going through their mind at that moment.
When the fear arises, meditate on Scripture and speak life to yourself,
The Israelites, at this point, had no idea what they were going to face. All they had been given were instructions and a promise. Moses assured them that the Lord was going to cross over ahead of them and defeat the nations dwelling there (Deuteronomy 31:3). They had to stake strength from the word of God to go into the unknown, and we can do the same.
What is the promise that God has given you that causes you to fear? You might be dreading the process because the promise seems bigger than you. Or maybe you feel like you don’t have the finances or support to tackle it right now even though God has told you He will go ahead of you. Write down some of your favorite encouraging scriptures and meditate on these when you’re feeling anxious about what’s to come.
Trust that God will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says, the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you.” Be confident in the fact that your God loves you and has amazing plans for your life. Although you may not see the end of the story, you need to trust the Author and finisher of your faith.
Let go of your need to control things and embrace the journey of walking by faith. This is always easier said than done, of course. It seems safer to stick with what you know, but consider Noah’s arc. He began building the arc without fully understanding what God was doing, and his life was spared because of it! Sometimes God protects us from knowing too much so that we don’t become paralyzed in fear.
Get comfortable with discomfort.
Listen, at the end of the day, fam, none of us have any real control. If you try to control everything, you’re going to live a long and miserable life here. Lean on God like never before, run to Him! His name is a strong tower in your life. Go to Him when your unsure of what to do or how to decide. Let the Spirit guide you into His will for your life. If we recognize the power and authority of Christ in us, no storm, no obstacle, and no fear will take us by surprise.
If you’re fighting fear in this season, join our FREE email devotional challenge called, “To Hell With Fear.”
