I’ve been thinking about fear this week. It’s everywhere, in our headlines, our conversations, even in the quiet corners of our lives. We dress it up with phrases like ‘feel the fear and do it anyway‘, but my devotion reminded me that for Christians, that line doesn’t quite sit right.

Because fear doesn’t come from God. ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.‘ (2 Timothy 1:7)

Read that again. Fear is not a personality trait, or a quirk to accept. It’s a spirit. A thief. Something that sneaks in and tries to rob us of courage, of joy, of clarity. And if God didn’t give it, we don’t have to carry it.

Instead, what He does give us is love. And ‘perfect love casts out fear‘ (1 John 4:18); that means His love and fear can’t coexist. When we root ourselves in His love, fear has no seat at the table.

But here’s the thing: we still feel it. The shakiness in your chest before you speak up. The way your fingers hover over “submit application” before you close the laptop. The way your heart sinks when you want to ask for better; at work, in love, in life. Fear is loud. It’s convincing. And it always tries to stop us before we even begin.

Yet God says move anyway, not because the fear is valid, but because His word is stronger. Pray against the spirit of fear, and then act. Apply to that school. Demand better at work. Start the thing. Tell the truth. Hit on that girl (with respect, obviously). Say yes. Say no. Just don’t let fear be the one steering your life.

This week, I’m choosing to remember that fear is not the author of my story, God is. And His story for us has always been written in love, not fear.

So, here’s to stepping into the week with trembling hands maybe, but with steady faith. Fearless, because He said so. What good thing have you been afraid of doing? Would you do it if God commanded you (not requested you) to not be afraid? Well, He already has. “Do not be afraid’ is a command. Do the thing, yeah?

Stay well, and may your week be great!

Yours, fearlessly,

Njoks.