Fear shows up in all kinds of shapes. For some of us, it’s spiders. For others, heights, needles, or tight spaces. Pastor Josh White started his message by naming a handful of real phobias — aphidiophobia (snakes), acrophobia (heights), trypanophobia (needles) — and got a few laughs. But then he pressed in on the deeper question: What are you afraid of?
Because the truth is, most of us are afraid of things that shouldn’t command that kind of control over us. And more importantly, many of us are not afraid of the things we absolutely should be.
God’s Commands Are Not Something to Fear
Pastor Josh pointed out something convicting: God’s commands are not among the things we should fear. And yet, all of us — if we’re honest — have sidestepped something God has called us to do because we were afraid of the what-ifs.
What if it doesn’t work out? What if something goes wrong? What if I fail?
Those what-ifs can paralyze us. And when they do, they don’t just affect us — they affect our families, our churches, and the purposes God has for our lives.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:58
Abraham and Sarah: When Fear Meets Faith
Pastor Josh turned to Genesis 12 to walk through the story of Abraham and Sarah. God gave them a jaw-dropping promise — land, a great nation, blessing to all the families of the earth — and then asked them to go. Pick up everything. Leave familiar territory. Walk into the unknown.
Think about what could have gone wrong. The logistics alone were overwhelming. And Sarah, according to Josh, had every reason to fixate on the risks. If she focused on all the what-ifs, she could have easily lived in fear and never submitted to God’s plan.
“And the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.'”
— Genesis 12:1-2
The bigger issue wasn’t the logistics — it was the fear of stepping out when God had spoken. Abraham and Sarah chose to trust the God who makes promises over the circumstances that didn’t make sense.
When Fear Shows Up in Marriage
Pastor Josh went back to a passage he had preached on before — 1 Peter 3 — specifically the section on husbands and wives. He zeroed in on verse 6:
“And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.”
— 1 Peter 3:6
Josh pointed out that wives face real concerns — legitimate concerns — about the decisions a family faces. But when fear of the what-ifs takes over, it can lead to inaction, distrust, or resistance to God’s design for marriage. Similarly, husbands have been called by God to lead — to make decisions and be accountable to Him for those decisions. That requires trusting God’s leading, not shrinking back out of fear.
The point wasn’t about gender roles as a political talking point. It was about what fear does to our willingness to follow where God is calling.
God Does Not Change — So Don’t Live in Fear
From Malachi 3, Pastor Josh reminded the congregation of a foundational truth:
“For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”
— Malachi 3:6
Because God does not change, His character is reliable from generation to generation. His commands are not arbitrary. His promises are not hollow. When we fixate on all the things that could go wrong, we forget that the God commanding us is the same God who has never failed and will never fail.
So What Does This Look Like Practically?
Pastor Josh applied this in three specific areas:
1. Faithful Giving
Josh acknowledged that talking about money makes people uncomfortable — but the reason is revealing. When we hesitate to give, it’s often not about the money itself. It’s about fear. Fear that God won’t provide. Fear of lacking. Malachi 3:10 invites God’s people to test Him — to trust that He will pour out blessing when we are faithful.
“‘Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.'”
— Malachi 3:10
2. Sharing the Gospel
Most of us are not afraid of heaven — we’re afraid of what people might think if we share our faith. Josh turned to 1 Peter 3:15:
“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
— 1 Peter 3:15
We are commanded to be ready. That requires preparation — knowing what we believe and why. If fear of man is keeping you silent, that’s a fear that has grown too large.
Live by Faith, Not by Fear
Josh closed with a simple, direct challenge: God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us the Holy Spirit — power, love, and self-control. If your fear of circumstances, of failure, or of what others think is greater than your belief in God’s ability to give you the strength to obey — then today is the day to make a decision.
Trust God. Do not live in fear. Live by faith.
Scripture References
- Genesis 12:1-2 — God’s call to Abraham
- 1 Peter 3:6 — Do not fear what is frightening
- Malachi 3:6 — God does not change
- Malachi 3:10 — Test God in giving
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 — Steadfast, abounding in the Lord’s work
- 1 Peter 3:15 — Always be prepared to give an answer