Fear is the companion of immature faith. It shows up as constant anxiety over the job you might not get, the one you’re afraid of losing, the spouse who might stop loving you, children who might fail, a mortgage that might be denied, or the dread that you’ll outlive your loved ones—or worse, lose a child.
Fear is what happens when circumstances rule your life instead of God.
Why do we let things we cannot control dictate our peace?
Why do we exhaust ourselves trying to manage the uncontrollable?
How much life is wasted worrying about the unknown?
Meet Natalie. She is a chronic worrier. If something bad could happen, Natalie is already rehearsing it. She believes she must worry—otherwise, the bad thing will surely come to pass. Natalie is a sincere believer. She loves Jesus, reads her Bible, and attends church faithfully. She even goes to extra services, almost as if she’s trying to earn extra favor with God—like a divine quid pro quo.
But here’s the truth: Natalie hasn’t yet learned to fully trust the Lord. Her worry reveals a gap between what she believes about God and how much she trusts Him with her life. She is still an immature believer.
Now meet Ben. Since his spiritual awakening, Ben rarely worries. When the promotion at work came open, he didn’t spiral into anxiety. Instead, he laid it at Jesus’ feet: “Lord, if this aligns with Your will, please open the door. If not, close it. Thy will be done.”
Ben understands that nothing happens without God’s permission. He lives the Lord’s Prayer daily—trusting God for today’s bread and tomorrow’s path.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6
Ben knows God has a plan. But Ben is also human. There are seasons when things go sideways for weeks or months, and honest doubts creep in. He wonders if God has forgotten him or if he’s somehow out of alignment with God’s will.
Here’s the key distinction:
Faith and fear cannot coexist, but faith and doubt often do.
Doubt is not the same as unbelief.
- Unbelief is a hardened rejection of God or His promises. It walks away.
- Doubt is internal tension—questions and wrestling—while still holding on to God.
Scripture is full of God-honoring people who brought their doubts directly to Him:
- The father in Mark 9:24 brought his son to Jesus even while admitting his doubts. Jesus responded with compassion and healing.
- John the Baptist, in prison, sent messengers to ask if Jesus was really the One (Matthew 11:2-6). Jesus gently reassured him instead of condemning him.
- Peter (Matthew 14:30) began to sink because of doubt on the water, but Jesus immediately reached out and lifted him.
- Thomas (John 20:24-29) refused to believe the resurrection until he saw Jesus for himself. Jesus met him in his doubt, and Thomas’s faith became deeply personal.
I know this tension well from my own life. Several years ago, I sailed my charter boat from Annapolis, Maryland, to the British Virgin Islands.
During the long night watches, alone under an infinite canopy of stars, I experienced a profound spiritual awakening. I marveled at God’s creation and suddenly felt His presence and peace. I heard His voice in my heart saying I was not insignificant—He created all of this for us.
I didn’t know how to respond. I started reciting familiar prayers, but His voice gently said, “Stop, and just talk to me.” I struggled (and still do at times), asking, “How do I know if I’m hearing Your voice or my own?” He replied, “Speak to me with the love, trust, and confidence you once did as a child. Speak to me with your heart.”
That voyage marked the beginning of a deeper, more intimate walk with God—moving from religion to relationship. Yet even after that encounter, doubts have surfaced in difficult seasons. Those moments of honest questioning have not weakened my faith; they have driven me closer to Him.
Even giants of the faith like Martin Luther and Mother Teresa walked through seasons of uncertainty. Doubt doesn’t disqualify you—it often signals growth.
As one pastor wisely said:
“Spiritual doubt is good because it indicates spiritual growth.”
Honest doubt is not a sign of weak faith — it is often the very evidence that your faith is alive and maturing. It pushes you beyond shallow, childlike belief into a deeper, more resilient faith that has been tested and refined. When we wrestle with real questions and bring our uncertainties to God instead of hiding them, it forces us to seek Him more earnestly. This process stretches and strengthens our trust, much like exercise strengthens muscles. The result is a faith that can withstand storms rather than one that only flourishes in calm waters.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace…”
— Hebrews 4:16
We don’t come to God because of our perfect faith or self-confidence. We come because of our confidence in Christ. Real faith isn’t the absence of doubt—it’s choosing to trust and obey even while we bring our doubts to the Father and ask for help.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10
What about you?: If you’re more like Natalie right now, that’s okay. Bring your worries to Jesus today. If you’re like Ben—trusting but wrestling with doubts—keep bringing those honest questions to the throne of grace. God is not threatened by your doubts. He is glorified when you run to Him with them.
Where are you today—fearful, doubting, or learning to trust? Share in the comments. Let’s encourage one another to walk in greater trust.
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