What Fear Reveals About What We Trust

Someone once shared with me that there are 365 commands in the Bible telling us not to fear. While I’ve never personally verified that number, I do know that “fear not” is a recurring reminder throughout the Bible.  

I’ve yet to meet a person who has entirely escaped fear. It’s something we all experience. The question before us is not whether fear will appear, but what it may be revealing when it does. 

Last week, I acknowledged that fear is a human response—not a spiritual failure. In this post, I want to ask a deeper question: What does fear reveal about where we place our trust?

Fear has a way of exposing what we rely on for security. When the things we depend upon begin to feel fragile—health, finances, relationships, stability—fear often surfaces. Not to condemn us, but to reveal what we lean on most heavily.

Scripture speaks honestly about this tension.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”- (Ps. 20:7, ESV)

The psalmist is not suggesting that chariots or horses are inherently wrong. In their time, these represented strength, protection, and military power. The issue is not what we possess, but where we place our dependence.

Fear as a Window into Our Trust

When fear rises, it often points us toward what we believe will ultimately keep us safe. Sometimes that trust is placed in good and necessary things—work, routines, resources, or relationships. Yet even good things can quietly become ultimate things.

Jesus addresses this gently but directly:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life… Look at the birds of the air… Are you not of more value than they?” – (Matt. 6:25–26, ESV)

Jesus does not deny the realities of daily needs. Instead, He invites His listeners to consider who sustains life, rather than what we try to control.

Fear often emerges when our sense of control weakens. And in that moment, fear can become a teacher—revealing where our trust may need to be reordered.

Fear doesn’t only reveal itself in theory—it often shows up most clearly in seasons of disruption. 

This reality really struck home with me last year. In previous blog posts, I’ve shared how, after nearly 20 years of service in a ministry, my sudden departure unleashed questions of why, what, and how. Why was this transition necessary? What did God see that I could not see? How will I manage? 

But the greater question this transition raised was simple—and searching: Whom will I trust? 

Learning to Re-Center Our Trust

Trusting God does not mean withdrawing from responsibility or ignoring reality. It means allowing God—not fear—to have the final authority over our decisions, emotions, and expectations.

The book of Proverbs offers a familiar, yet challenging invitation:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”- (Prov. 3:5, ESV)

Fear often urges us to lean heavily on our own understanding—to anticipate every outcome, prepare for every loss, and manage every risk. Faith invites us to live responsibly while remaining rooted in God’s love and wisdom rather than being driven by anxiety.

A Quiet Reorientation

Re-centering trust is rarely dramatic. More often, it happens quietly—through prayer, Scripture, honest self-examination, and a willingness to release what we cannot control.

As we move deeper into this series, the invitation is not to eliminate fear, but to let fear point us back to God—again and again.

A Prayerful Invitation to Reflect

As you reflect this week, I invite you to sit with these questions gently and honestly:

1. When fear arises in my life, what does it tend to reveal about where I am placing my trust?

What am I most afraid of losing or having disrupted?

2. What “chariots” or “horses” do I find myself relying on for a sense of security?

How might God be inviting me to trust Him more deeply in those areas?

3. How do I typically respond when my sense of control is threatened?

What might it look like to respond with trust rather than being governed by anxiety?

4. Which Scripture from this reflection invites me to re-center my trust in God today?

How can I return to it throughout the week?

As you reflect, remember this: fear does not disqualify faith. Often, it becomes the place where faith is clarified and strengthened.

__________________

Next week, we’ll explore how faith is practiced when fear doesn’t quickly fade—and how God forms steady trust through ordinary, faithful rhythms.

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.

Wishing you a blessed New Year.