Introduction: A Lesson from Childhood
My uncle, Dr. Reverend Warren P. Chavers, used to say: FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.
As a kid growing up, I heard that a lot. But as an adult, it hits differently. When you’re young, fear might look like the dark or the first day of school. But as we navigate life’s bigger challenges—loss, disappointment, uncertainty—fear takes on a whole new weight.
Over the past several months, I’ve been doing some deep digging. Going back through the Fearfully and Wonderfully Made journal with our women’s discussion group has helped me even more than when I wrote it last year. And here’s what I’ve realized: there are so many things we hold onto that keep us fearful of the future.
Past hurts. Past mistakes. Life not turning out the way we thought it would—whether for better or worse. All of it can plant seeds of fear that keep us stuck.
Faith, Patience, and Fear
I feel like God has been dealing with me on Faith and Patience these last few months. Those are definitely my words for this season. But here’s the truth: with faith and patience does come fear.
It’s not always easy, as they say, to “Let Go and Let God.” When you’re waiting on God to move, when you’re stepping out in faith toward something you can’t yet see—fear whispers in your ear. What if it doesn’t work out? What if you fail? What if you’re not ready?
(I’ll dive deeper into faith and patience in my next two reflections—but today, we’re tackling fear head-on.)
Fear: A Natural Response That Can Keep Us Stuck
Fear is a natural response to the unknown. But it can also keep us in a place we were never meant to stay.
I look back over the years at ideas I know came from God—and I didn’t always move on them right away. I was fearful of what that step might look like. How would I even do it? What if I mess it up?
But here’s the thing: sometimes we don’t get to choose when we step into the unknown. Sometimes life forces us into situations we never asked for. Maybe you suddenly became responsible for a loved one who needs care. Maybe someone you depended on walked away from your life without warning. Maybe circumstances shifted overnight, and now you’re navigating territory you never wanted to walk through.
When life thrusts us into these unexpected places, fear can feel even more overwhelming. We didn’t sign up for this. We didn’t prepare for this. We don’t feel ready.
But here’s what I’ve realized: When God gives you something—or when life hands you something—it always falls into place. You look back, not even realizing how you got there so quickly. Everything you needed—every resource, every person who was meant to be part of it—it all just happens.
That’s how I know it’s Him. Because when we’re operating in fear, we’re stuck. But when we step out in faith—even when we’re forced to step—God orchestrates things we could never have arranged on our own.
Moses and the Red Sea: When Fear Meets Faith
There’s a story in the Bible that perfectly captures this tension between fear and faith: Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
Picture it: The Israelites had just been freed from slavery. They were finally on their way to the Promised Land. But then, they found themselves trapped—the Red Sea in front of them, Pharaoh’s army closing in behind them. There was nowhere to go. Fear set in fast.
The people cried out, “Why did you bring us here to die? We were better off in Egypt!”
But Moses said something powerful:
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.”
— Exodus 14:13
And then God did the impossible. He parted the Red Sea. The Israelites walked through on dry ground, and when Pharaoh’s army tried to follow, the waters came crashing down.
God made a way where there was no way.
The same God who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites is the same God walking with you through your impossible situation today.
“Fear Not” — God’s Most Repeated Command
Did you know that some form of “fear not” appears over 365 times in the Bible? One for every day of the year. That’s how often God knew we’d need the reminder.
The Hebrew word for “fear” in many of these passages is yare (יָרֵא) — Strong’s Concordance #3372. It means to be afraid, to dread, to reverence. It can mean both the fear that paralyzes us and the reverent awe we’re meant to have for God.
God isn’t telling us we’ll never feel fear. He’s telling us: Don’t let fear be your master. Let Me be.
Here are two powerful promises to hold onto when fear tries to take over:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
— Isaiah 43:2
Notice it doesn’t say if you pass through the waters—it says when. God doesn’t promise we’ll avoid hard things. He promises He’ll be with us in them.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
— Isaiah 41:10
Laying Fear Down at Heaven’s Riverside
When fear rises up—and it will—remember: Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real.
The best thing we can do is pray about it. Bring it to God. Speak His Word over it. Remind your soul of what’s true.
There’s a song that has been ministering to my heart lately called “Still Waters (Psalm 23)” by Leanna Crawford. The message is simple but profound: even when we walk through valleys, God leads us by still waters. He turns our anxiety into peace. His Word is true in every season.
The song reminds us that we can lay fear down at Heaven’s riverside—because God’s goodness and mercy follow us all our days.
Reflection Prompt
Take a few moments today to reflect:
What fear am I holding onto right now? What “false evidence” has convinced me that God can’t handle this situation?
Write it down. Say it out loud. Then speak Isaiah 43:2 over it: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”
God is not asking you to be fearless. He’s asking you to trust Him in spite of the fear.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father,
You know the fears I carry—the “what ifs” that keep me awake at night, the doubts that whisper I’m not ready, the false evidence that tries to convince me You’re not in control.
Today, I choose to lay my fear down at Your feet. Remind me that You are the God who parts seas, who walks with me through fire, who leads me by still waters even in the valleys.
Help me to trust You when I can’t see the way forward. Strengthen my faith. Teach me patience. And when fear rises up again, remind me: I am Yours, and You are with me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
💕 You are not alone in your fear. God is with you—and He’s already made a way.