Faith Over Fear: Finding God’s Peace When Fear Screams Loud!

Faith over fear! I’ll never forget the events of the last football game. My youngest daughter’s day had already been so full. As a JV cheerleader, she usually performs at smaller games, but because of homecoming, she was set to cheer at the big varsity game that night—a game with what felt like a thousand times more people in the stands than she was used to. And it wasn’t just the game, it was also her first high school pep rally that day, her first homecoming parade, and so much more. The excitement had been building all week, and I could tell she was both nervous and excited. Lets just say it was a lot for one day.

During the first half of the game, she was absolutely doing awesome, I couldn’t have been prouder. As a flyer on the cheer team, she spends a lot of time in the air, and she handled every stunt like a pro. I noticed her looking a little shaky during one of the stunts, but she pushed through and kept smiling. 

But then, out of nowhere, everything changed. At halftime, she came running to me in the stands, her face pale and her body trembling. I could see fear all over her face, and I knew this was more than typical nerves. I tried to calm her and have her sit and rest, but she started hyperventilating. I quickly took her from the stands, which were packed with hundreds of fans, to the bathroom, hoping to find a quieter place and praying it would be cooler there because it was such a hot night. But as soon as we stepped inside, I realized it wasn’t any cooler. Trying to find some sort of relief for her, I turned on the cold water, had her splash it on her cheeks.

A couple of ladies I recognized from selling tickets at the gate noticed that she was in distress. They hurried over, and together, we tried to soothe her, cooling her down with water and a bag of ice. But despite our efforts, she just wasn’t coming out of it. Her breathing became more erratic, and I could feel panic rising in my own chest. Then suddenly, we were surrounded by first responders—police officers, firefighters, sports trainers, EMS—all rushing in to help and a crowd of curious people was quickly forming outside the open bathroom door.

When I saw the gurney roll to a stop in front of that open door, my heart dropped. We were pushed back so the medical professionals could work on her, and my husband and I felt a million miles away from her who was only a few feet in front of us. God held me in that place, right there in the midst of that chaos. As fear tried to scream at me and seize me, I felt waves of God’s peace washing over me, tamping down the panic that was threatening to overwhelm. Even though I couldn’t physically be close to her, I knew God could. I knew He was with her. He would not leave her, He is always faithful. God was in control.

Speaking Life Over My Daughters Every Day

I make sure to speak these words over my kids before they head out the door: “Angels watching over you, blood of Jesus covers you, Psalms 91 shadows over you. Great shall be the peace of thy children. With long life shall He satisfy you. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. By His stripes you are healed. You are the righteousness of God through Christ. You are healthy and whole in your soul.” I started speaking these powerful words right after my oldest was born, and here I am, 18 years later, still declaring them every day. So, I knew my daughter was covered. Without a doubt.

When You Are a Kingdom Mama Raising Kingdom Kids

I’ve learned that when you are a kingdom mama raising kingdom kids, the enemy takes notice. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He wants to break us, to shake us, to instill fear into our hearts and doubt into our minds, he wants to condemn us through his whispers and those around you. He sees our children with a calling on their life that are walking in God’s light, and he wants nothing more than to cast shadows over their paths. But we stand strong against his attacks. We cling to God’s promises and fight back with faith. We are fully armored up, armed with the truth that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

That night with my daughter, I had every reason to be afraid. But I also knew that fear is one of the enemy’s oldest tricks. He whispers lies, trying to make us believe that God isn’t there, that we are alone, that our prayers aren’t being heard. But here’s the thing: Fear is a liar. The devil is a liar. God has never left us, not for a moment. Even in the chaos, even when it feels like everything is falling apart, He is there. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18). When fear tells you to panic, to worry, to run, God whispers, “Trust Me.” Faith over fear!

Faith Over Fear Is a Choice We Make Daily

Choosing faith over fear is a daily battle. It’s not a one-time decision, it’s a choice we make over and over again. When fear is loud, when our minds race with “what-ifs,” we can choose to stand on the promises of God. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” (Psalm 56:3).

That night in the ambulance, I had to keep choosing faith, moment by moment. I kept reminding myself that my daughter was in God’s hands, that He loved her even more than I did. I had to let go of my need to control and lean into His strength. And as I did, I felt His peace surround me—a peace that made no sense given the circumstances, but a peace that only comes from knowing He is in control and we belong to HIM.

Shutting Down the Lies of Guilt and Condemnation

The days that followed, though, have been a battle on top of the battle. Attacks and lies from the enemy came flooding in, telling me it was my fault, trying to choke me with mom guilt. Condemnation has been spoken over me a lot! Our family has had its fair share of trauma, and I know people assume a lot. 

If you listen to the lies you can unknowingly build a wall between you and God if you don’t recognize this deception of condemnation. Every time those lies and doubts hit, I have a choice: (a) I can accept the lie, let it weigh on me, and allow it to become a stronghold, or (b) I can shut it down by renewing my mind with the Word of God. I choose B! It’s time we get to the point (and I’m getting there) where we don’t care what people think or assume why things happen to us or question our personal relationship with God.

But here’s the thing—I know it’s a lie, and I do not accept it. I know who I am in Christ, and I will stand firm on that truth, leaning into Him for strength, refusing to let the enemy have any ground in my life. His grace is sufficient. I’m not perfect, but thank God I don’t need to be. He knows my heart and my intentions, and that’s all that matters.

When Fear Shouts, Choose Faith

Fear will always try to shout louder than faith. It will always try to tell you that you’re not enough, that you’re on your own, that things will never get better. But the truth is, we are never alone. God is with us, in every breath, in every heartbeat, in every step. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” (Isaiah 41:10).

In those moments when fear tries to take over, we have a choice. We can choose to let fear paralyze us, or we can choose to stand firm in faith, believing that God is who He says He is. We can choose to trust that His plans are good, even when we don’t understand them. Faith over fear!

Trusting God with What We Cannot Control

Looking back, I realize that my greatest comfort didn’t come from knowing exactly what was happening or how things would turn out. It came from knowing that God was there with us. He was holding my daughter, holding me and my husband, carrying us all through that storm that threatened to swallow us whole.

In those moments when fear is screaming at you, remember that God is closer than your next breath. His peace is available to you, even when everything else feels out of control. Choosing faith over fear doesn’t mean the fear isn’t there; it just means it doesn’t get to have the final word or take hold of you. “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).

Choosing Faith over Fear and Finding Peace

So, today and every day, I choose faith over fear. I remind myself that all 3 of my daughters are not just in my hands, they are in His. And His hands are mighty to save, strong to protect, and always faithful.

When fear tries to creep back in, when it whispers its lies, I go back to the truth- God is with us. He is for us. And in those times when fear is loud, His peace will always find a way to envelop us.

Father God, continue to help me to choose faith over fear, to trust in You when life feels uncertain. “As for me, I trust in You, Lord. You are my God. My life is in Your hands.” (Psalm 31:14-15).

Forest Rose

Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, &  Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!