Overcoming Fear with Faith

"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." —Psalm 56:3 (WEB)

I’ll never forget the time I did stand-up comedy at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, at Westport Plaza and St. Louis. I did a five minute set in a club full of people. My hands were sweating, my heart was racing, and I could barely think straight or remember my set. As I stood there, it felt like every fear I had ever carried was suddenly piled onto my shoulders. What if I messed up? What if nobody laughs? Fear, at that moment, had me in its grip. I prayed a silent, desperate prayer: “God, please help me" and less than a year later, I was a headliner, winning contests and selling out shows.

Fear is something we all face at some point. It doesn’t matter if it’s fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of rejection, or even fear for our safety. It's part of the human experience, and we often can't control when or how it appears. But what we can control is how we respond to it. That day, standing in front of that audience, I had two choices: give in to fear and let it paralyze me, or trust God and take the step forward.

The Bible speaks directly to fear many times, often paired with a message of trust in God. In Psalm 56:3, David, who was no stranger to danger and fear, says, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." It’s such a simple but powerful declaration: when fear comes, my first response should be to trust God. David doesn’t say he’ll never feel afraid—he acknowledges fear but immediately shifts his focus from the fear to God. That’s the key. When fear overwhelms us, faith helps us find our footing again.

I remember that after my quick prayer, I took a deep breath, looked out at the faces in the crowd, and began speaking. Did my fear vanish completely? No. But I could feel God's presence calming me, steadying me. I wasn’t alone, and that made all the difference. Sometimes faith doesn’t remove the fear; it just gives us the courage to keep moving through it.

In the Bible, we see many examples of people who overcame fear by choosing faith. Think about Peter walking on water toward Jesus (Matthew 14:29-31). At first, his faith was strong, and he was doing the impossible. But as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the wind and waves around him, fear crept in, and he began to sink. Yet even as he was sinking, Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” And Jesus immediately reached out his hand to catch him.

That’s what fear does—it distracts us. It makes us focus on the worst-case scenarios, the "what ifs," and the challenges that seem too big for us to handle. But faith calls us back to focus on Jesus, the one who is greater than the storms in our lives. Just like Peter, we may waver, but Jesus is always there, ready to catch us when we call out to Him.

So how do we practically overcome fear with faith in our daily lives? One way is by saturating our minds with God’s promises. The Bible is full of assurances that God is with us and for us. In Isaiah 41:10, God says, "Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you." Holding onto verses like this when fear threatens to overtake us can be a powerful way to shift our mindset from fear to faith.

Another important step is prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." When we bring our fears to God in prayer, we’re not only inviting Him into our situation, but we’re also acknowledging that we trust Him to handle what we can’t.

I’ve also found that surrounding myself with supportive people—those who remind me of God’s faithfulness—is crucial. Sometimes, when fear is loud in our heads, we need others to speak truth into our hearts. There’s a reason the Bible talks so much about the importance of community. We weren’t meant to fight our battles alone.

Lastly, we have to take action, even if it’s just a small step. Courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s moving forward in spite of it. Whether it’s making that phone call you’ve been avoiding, stepping into a new opportunity, or simply facing a difficult conversation, faith grows as we take steps forward, trusting that God will meet us there. Each small act of faith is like a brick, slowly building a wall of confidence in God’s provision and protection.

That day, after my first set, I realized something important. The fear I felt wasn’t a sign of weakness; it was an opportunity to lean more on God. Every time I face a new fear, I try to remember that it’s another chance to strengthen my trust in Him. And while I don’t always get it right, I know God is patient with me, continually inviting me to trust Him deeper.

If fear is holding you back today, I want to encourage you to remember that you’re not alone. God is with you in your fear, and He is ready to help you move forward in faith. Whether your fear feels big or small, His love for you is bigger. Lean into that truth, and take the next step forward, trusting that God is already ahead of you, preparing the way.