A Year of Fear—or Faith?

The start of a new year often brings a mix of hope and anxiety. 

On one hand, we embrace the hope of new beginnings. On the other hand, we carry questions that feel heavier than we want to admit. What’s coming? What will change? What will stay uncertain?

For many people, fear isn’t just an idea—it’s something they face every day.

Concerns about health, finances, safety, relationships, and the increasing divisiveness we see can quietly influence how we wake up each morning and how we go to sleep at night.

Fear has been a constant companion throughout many seasons of my life.  

Reflecting on my childhood, I remember how fear haunted me. It felt like I was afraid of almost everything—an unwanted frog or snake placed in my bed by an older sibling, or an internal fear of disappointing others, triggered by repeated reminders that “I couldn’t do anything right.” I constantly feared I was a disappointment to God because of my sins! 

Fear has a way of pressing in, even when we wish it wouldn’t.

Yet Scripture never treats fear as something to ignore or deny. Instead, it names fear honestly—while refusing to let it have the final word. 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear…” (Psalm 46:1–2, ESV)

The psalmist does not pretend that trouble is absent or that fear does not exist. Faith, in the biblical sense, is not optimism or denial. It is trust anchored in the character and presence of God, even amid uncertainty.

Fear Is a Human Response—Not a Spiritual Failure

One of the quiet burdens many people carry is the belief that fear indicates a lack of faith. However, Scripture tells a different story. Again and again, God speaks words like “Do not fear”— not because fear is impossible for faithful people, but because it is deeply human.

Fear often surfaces when the world seems unstable—when the structures we depend on appear fragile or untrustworthy. In that way, fear can expose where we look for security.

Jesus speaks directly to this reality:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1, ESV)

Notice what Jesus does not say. He does not dismiss the trouble. He does not shame anxious hearts. Instead, He redirects attention—inviting His disciples to place their trust somewhere deeper and more secure.

Faith Is Not the Absence of Fear

As we start this year, it might help to let go of the idea that faith means feeling calm all the time. Faith isn’t the absence of fear; it’s about trusting God even when fear is there.

The prophet Isaiah shares God’s reassurance in words many of us need to hear again.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

God’s promise is not that circumstances will instantly resolve, but that His presence will remain. Faith forms not through certainty about outcomes, but through trust in God’s closeness.

An Invitation for the Year Ahead

At the beginning of this new year, the question before us isn’t whether fear will show up—it almost certainly will. 

The deeper question is where we will turn when it does.

This series, Facing Fear with Faith, invites exploration of how Scripture forms a steady, resilient trust in God amid uncertainty. In the weeks ahead, we’ll reflect on what fear reveals, how faith is practiced, and how God invites His people to live as non-anxious presences in anxious times.

For now, we begin simply—with honesty and hope.

A Prayerful Invitation to Reflect

As you begin this new year, I invite you to pause and listen for God’s gentle leading.

You may wish to sit with these questions prayerfully:

1. What fears have been quietly shaping my thoughts or decisions as this new year begins?

Where do I notice anxiety showing up most often?

2. When fear arises, where do I tend to look for reassurance or control?

What might this reveal about where I am placing my trust?

3. What would it look like for me to practice trust in God—not by denying fear, but by bringing it honestly before Him? 

What sense of freedom might emerge as you trust that God understands your fears?

4. Which words from Scripture in this reflection do I need to hear again today?

How might I carry them with me this week?

As you reflect, remember this: God does not meet us on the other side of fear—He meets us within it.

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Next week, we’ll explore how fear often reveals what we trust most—and how God gently reshapes our trust when the foundations around us feel uncertain.

If this reflection resonates with you, please share it with others who are facing fear or uncertainty. Together, we can offer encouragement and remind one another that faith is possible—even in fearful times.

Grace and peace to you as you begin this new year.