Faith and fear have more in common than we often admit. Both require belief in something unseen—a future not yet realized, an outcome not yet determined. The difference lies in the direction they pull us. Fear whispers, “What if everything falls apart?” while faith counters, “What if God’s promises are true?”
Advent is a season of waiting, watching, and preparing—a time when we lean into the tension between what is and what is yet to come. It’s also a season that calls us to make a choice: will we wait in fear, or will we wait in faith?
Fear is a powerful force. It grips us when the future feels uncertain, when the what-ifs spiral out of control. Fear isn’t always irrational—there are real dangers and risks in the world—but it often magnifies the darkness, making us forget who God is and what He has done for us.
Magnification of the Darkness
Of all the things to magnify, darkness isn’t the most ideal!
Faith, like fear, also asks us to believe in the unseen, but it anchors that belief in God’s character and His promises. Faith assures us that even when we can’t see the outcome, God is working. As Hebrews 11:1 reminds us:
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
While fear imagines the worst, faith trusts that God is greater than our circumstances. And because of that trust, we know this: the worst things will never be the last things.
Faith or Fear: What Will Take Root?
The reality is, faith and fear will both show up in our lives. We can’t avoid them. But we can choose which one we allow to take root.
- Fear demands control: It asks us to brace for impact, to imagine the worst, and to pull away from trust.
- Faith invites surrender: It asks us to release control, to believe in God’s goodness, and to step forward even when the path is unclear.
Waiting with Faith
Waiting often invites fear to creep in. Think of Mary and Joseph. The angel told Mary she would give birth to the Messiah, but what followed was anything but smooth: a long journey to Bethlehem, rejection at every door, and finally, giving birth in a stable.
Don’t you think fear tried to whisper its lies?
- What if the angel was wrong?
- What if Joseph abandons me?
- What if this isn’t the way it’s supposed to be?
Fear magnifies the uncertainty of waiting, asking us to believe in worst-case scenarios and doubt God’s presence.
But Advent reminds us that faith is stronger than fear. Mary’s response to the angel shows us what faith looks like:
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)
Faith doesn’t erase uncertainty; it anchors us in God’s promises despite the uncertainty.
Promises That Anchor Us
- “God will never leave us or forsake us.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
- “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2)
- “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Faith reminds us that the same God who fulfilled His promise in Bethlehem will fulfill His promises to us—even when we can’t see how.
Reflection Questions
- Where in your life is fear demanding your belief?
- How can you intentionally choose faith in those areas instead?
- What unseen promises of God can you cling to today?
A Prayer for Faith
Lord, thank You for being the One we can trust, even when we cannot see the way forward. Help us to choose faith over fear, to trust in Your promises, and to believe that You are working for our good. Give us courage to walk in the assurance of Your love, even in the midst of uncertainty. Amen.
By choosing faith over fear, we magnify God’s light instead of the darkness. This Advent season, let us lean into His promises and trust that the light of Christ will guide us forward, no matter what lies ahead.