Fear is Not a Dead End

Fear has a way of showing up uninvited. It whispers questions we don’t want to answer: What if I fail? What if I lose someone I love? What if I’m not enough? Sometimes fear feels like a wall we can’t climb, trapping us in our worry. But what if fear isn’t meant to trap us—but to teach us?

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
– Psalm 56:3 NKJV

Jon Reddick’s journey gives us a glimpse into how fear can be a teacher if we let God meet us in it. After the loss of a friend, fear could have pushed him into isolation. Instead, it stirred something new—gratitude for the people still in his life. During the uncertainty of COVID, fear could have silenced his voice as a worship leader. Instead, it revealed that God values honest hearts over polished performances.

Proverbs calls the fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). This isn’t the kind of fear that paralyzes—it’s a reverence that draws us into relationship. It teaches us to ask: God, what are You showing me through this?

Fear is not a dead end—it’s often God’s invitation to lean in closer and trust Him more deeply.

Jon learned this when he was first asked to play piano at a church. He only knew two songs and was terrified of making mistakes. But he said yes. That small step of faith led to a calling in worship ministry that he never could have imagined. What if he had let fear win?

We all face these moments—when the fear of not being good enough, not knowing enough, or losing something precious makes us want to retreat. But God is not asking for perfection. He’s asking for willingness.

Fear will come, but it doesn’t have to control you. It can be a signal to pause and pray. It can remind you to hold loved ones a little closer. It can push you toward trusting God when you can’t see what’s ahead.

Today’s One Thing
Identify one fear you’ve been avoiding. Bring it to God in prayer. Ask Him, What are You trying to show me through this? Then, take one small step of faith—whether it’s reaching out to someone, starting a project you’ve been afraid to try, or simply saying yes to God’s prompting.

Sources: Reddick 2024 Nashville LONGFORM; ChatGPT – Devotional Writer

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