This article covers examples of overcoming, highest fears of women and a personal story of overcoming through faith.

This article is the seventh of a blog series offering practical steps rooted in Christ and biblical principles to help you build resilience and trust in God's plan. Following these steps, you'll learn to navigate life's trials with faith and confidence, leaning on Christ's everlasting support.

If you missed it, click to read Trust: The Foundation of Healthy Relationships Part Two

If you missed it, click to read Trust: The Foundation of Healthy Relationships, the fifth article in this series.

If you missed it, click to read Trusting God with His Plan After Trauma, the fourth article in this series.

If you missed it, click to read Trusting God, the third article in this series.

If you missed it, click to read Building A Resilient Faith: Jesus Our Model, the second article in this series.

If you missed it, click to read Understanding Biblical Resilience, the first article in this series. 

Defining Doubt & Fear

Doubt is being unconvinced that something is true. An example is when Thomas, one of Jesus' disciples, needed to see the nail holes in Jesus' hands after His resurrection to believe it was Him.

Another example is when the disciples were in the boat together on the stormy sea. At about 3:00 am, Jesus was approaching the boat. The disciples thought He was a ghost. As Jesus got closer, He spoke, "Don't be afraid. Take courage, I am here." Then Peter put Jesus to the test. "If it's really you, tell me to come to you walking on the water." And Jesus called him. Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus, but when he took his eyes off Jesus, feeling the whipping winds and stormy seas, he began to sink. Peter called to Jesus to save him. And He did.

Fear is a physical and emotional response to a perceived threat or danger. Whether the threat or danger is justified, fear is automatic, based on internal beliefs about self, others, and one's environment.(1)

Fear can cause us to hide. Read below, where Adam talks to God after the Enemy tempts him and Eve to be disobedient.

And he replied, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid because I am naked, so I hid myself." Genesis 3:10 

Not fearing can hurt you.

Fear can protect you when you understand that the fear (awe or reverence) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! -Psalm 111:10 ESV

What Does Jesus Say About Doubt and Fear

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.

"You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?" -Matthew 10:30 NLT

So, you see that doubt is an uncertainty but not unbelief.

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. -Isaiah 41:10 NLT

When God is for us, none can stand against us. Reading the above scripture reveals that He is with us always, so we need not fear.

Do you believe Him, or do you have doubt?

Are you afraid to believe Him because you haven't had personal experiences with Him as Peter did?

Understand that doubt and fears are linked.

What Does Doubt and Fear Look Like?

Many women are plagued with fears of what could happen. A recent survey reports that women's top fears include:

• fear of unplanned pregnancy
• fear of getting an incurable disease
• fear of losing a man
• fear of losing one's beauty and attraction
• fear of being overweight
• fear of something happening to one's children(2)
  

Women experience many fears, four of which are relational and can significantly alter their way of life. Have you ever experienced any of the following fears?

• Fear of failure
• Fear of rejection
• Fear of abandonment
• Fear of death or dying(3)

Maybe you struggle with anxiety, fear, and worry from some of these types of fear. If so, we want you to know that you can overcome this thinking and live wholeheartedly in peace with God.

How Do We Overcome Doubt and Fear

"Therefore do not be afraid of them, because nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid… Matthew 10:26-33 

...for which reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and self-discipline. -2 Timothy 1:6–7

A Personal Story

Before coming to know Jesus, doubt and fear riddled me. I couldn't even talk in a meeting during a conference for fear I'd say the wrong thing. I was afraid of so many things that it consumed me. Having decades of complex trauma caused me to isolate, fear, and doubt. 

But when I was in my most broken place, at the end of the rope, so to speak, I had a dream. 

A dream that changed my life forever. 

I believe with all my mind, heart, and soul that this dream was given to me by our Most High God. 

While I had the choice to pay attention or not, it was clear that the best option for me was to follow where He set me.

I was in a bottomless, dark pit. I was clinging to the sides with my hands and toes, digging in endlessly as the dirt gave way with every attempt to go deeper. Below me was black and bottomless. Above me, I didn't know. Every time I tried to look up, the dirt fell upon my eyelids, causing them to close. Another fear. Dirt in my eyes. I was scared. I was so afraid I was going to fall into that pit and never come back to see my family, my children, and my grandchild.

But suddenly, I sensed a presence above me. There were no audible words, but I understood. In my spirit, I could hear a gentle voice saying, 

"Take my hand." 

But I couldn't do it. I was too afraid. 

"Let go, take my hand," the words came again. 

It took everything inside me to let go of what appeared to be the only thing saving me. But I did. I let go with one hand and reached up. Before I fell into the darkness, a big, strong hand grasped mine and lifted me, setting me on solid ground in the bright sunshine.

All the fears I once carried. All the doubts I wrestled with, everything changed.  It was an experience with God. A lifelike experience that I couldn't make up. Like Peter, I got to experience the power of Almighty God tangibly. It took His power to move me to believe and want to know Him deeper. And once I had that, I turned away from all those fears and doubts and began to trust Him. I love Him with everything I am because He loved, saved, and delivered me. He gave purpose and meaning to this life. 

His timing was perfect, and I am so grateful. :-)

I don't have it all together; I am still a work in progress, but I know Him. He is my best friend. I hope He is yours, too.

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. -Psalm 40:1-3 NIV

You Each Have a Unique Story of Building Faith

Whatever your story is, God meets you where you are. Invite Him to show you the way, take to heart perspective trust, and work on recognizing patterns of distrust, gaining a new perception of God, taking steps to trust perceptively, finding people who understand, and absorbing the truth about God. 

A Word for You

Trust in the Lord as your true source of strength. It is a loving command. I don't know where I'd be today if I had not let go and acted with courage.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9 NIV

It's true friends. It is the Truth. 

In our next article, we discuss Embracing God's Promises. Did you know God has made over 3,000 promises to us?

Resources:

(1)  Tim Clinton and Diane Langberg, The Quick-Reference Guide to Counseling Women (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011), 139.

(2) Ibid. 140

(3) Ibid.