“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
What are you afraid of?
Maybe it’s the typical stuff, fear of failure, rejection, fear of loss. Or maybe it’s the more subtle fears, the fear that keeps you playing it safe, the fear that makes you a people-pleaser, the fear that has you hiding behind a mask of “everything’s fine” when your life is actually falling apart.
The truth is that most of us are living lives driven by fear instead of faith. We’re so worried about what might happen, what people might think, or what we might lose that we never actually embrace and become the person God created us to be. And that’s a tragedy.
The Problem: We Are Believing Lies About Who We Are
Look around the room Sunday during the worship service. How many people do you think sitting there are believing lies about themselves? How many are carrying identities shaped by their worst moments, their biggest failures, or the cruel words someone spoke over them years ago?
In our church family we likely have those who think they’re “the one with the past,” “the failure,” “the one who can’t get it together,” “the disappointment”, etc. We are walking around living out an identity that directly contradicts who God says we are. And we wonder why we feel stuck, scared, and spiritually defeated. Paul wrote to the church of Corinth:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
You are not your past. You are not your failures or even your bad choices. You are not what others say about you. In Christ, you have a new identity. An identity that God Himself has given you.
The Question That Changes Everything
Here is an idea. Instead of asking everyone else who we are, why don’t we ask Jesus?
That sounds too simple, right? But consider how we often spend hours scrolling social media to see how others define themselves, we will read self-help books, we’ll even pay therapists to help us figure out our identity. But when was the last time you actually sat down and asked the One who created you and knows you best, “Who do You say I am?”
Jesus is not silent! He wants to communicate with His children. The Holy Spirit delights in revealing truth (John 16:13). However, we have to be willing to listen and that means getting quiet long enough to hear His voice.
Try setting aside 10 minutes today. No phone, no distractions. Ask Jesus directly: “Who do You say I am?” Write down what you hear. Then test it against Scripture. You may be surprised by what God reveals.
Identity First, Then Action
Most of us spend our lives trying to figure out what to do next. What job to take, who to marry, where to live, what decision to make, how to fix our problems, etc. But the biblical model is different. Our identity leads to our action, not the other way around.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
When you know who you are, you’ll know what to do. Living without fear does not mean you will never feel afraid. It means you’re no longer ruled by fear. It means you make decisions based on who God says you are, not on what you’re afraid might happen.
The next time you face a decision, ask yourself, “Is this choice coming from fear or from my identity in Christ?” Then choose accordingly.
God’s Love Drives Out Fear
We need to remember that God’s perfect love casts out fear.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” — 1 John 4:18 (ESV)
The more we understand how deeply we are loved by God, not because of our performance but because of His character, the less power fear has in our lives. We become fearless not because we are confident in ourselves, but because we are confident in who God is and who we are in Him.
Stop Playing It Safe
If we are honest, American Christians have become really good at playing it safe. We may have mastered the art of moral living, but we have forgotten what it means to live with holy boldness. We can be more concerned about feeling uncomfortable or awkward than we are about actually advancing God’s Kingdom.
That’s not what God called us to. He didn’t give us a spirit of fear. He gave us power, love, and self-control.
When was the last time you took a risk for God? When was the last time you stepped out in faith, even when you couldn’t see the outcome? When was the last time you let your God given identity dictate your choices instead of your fears?
Take Action Today
Reflect: Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal any false identities you’ve been carrying. What lies have you believed about yourself?
Listen: Ask Jesus, “Who do You say I am?” Journal what you sense and compare it with Scripture.
Act: Make one decision this week based on your God given identity and not on fear. It doesn’t have to be huge, but it needs to be real.
Share: Talk with someone you trust about what God is teaching you about your identity. Don’t keep this to yourself.
Let’s Live Fearlessly!
The world doesn’t need more Christians who play it safe. It needs believers who know who they are in Christ and aren’t afraid to live like it. It needs people who make decisions based on God’s truth, not societal norms. It needs followers of Jesus who are more concerned with pleasing God than pleasing people.
It starts with each of us refusing to live our false identities and choosing instead to walk in the identity that God has given us.
So who are you going to be? The person your fears tell you to be, or the person God says you are? The choice is yours!
Written by Sam McKeen
