December 29, 2025
My Devotion
My Heart
Faith over Fear
Teresa Gunn
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; just believe”. Mark 5:36
I have been controlled by fear many times in my life. If we are honest, we live with a sting of fear. For what we do not know or understand is all around us. It amazes me that the God who made the universe and all its inhabitants, and has everything and everyone under His control, knows me as though I am the only one. When I am alone, He is with me. When I am lost, He knows where I am. When I am afraid, He holds on to me. God has never in my life been in a hurry, He does not instantly answer my prayers, provide all that I need before I need it, give me whatever I want when I ask. No God is steadfast and steady with all His intentions and actions.
Throughout my life I have seen a lot, I have lived through a lot. I can’t say that the bad outweighed the good, but I can see that good can be found in everything I have been through. I was born the 4th and last child into a financially struggling family. It was a surprise pregnancy, my mother said she cried for months because she couldn’t see how they could take care of another child. I thought my mother was powerful, assured, and could do anything. Not only was I conceived, but I was also planned for by God with a twist. You see, when we think we can’t do any more God gives us a challenge to show us we can.
I was born with an intestinal birth defect, doctors in our small town did not know what it was and treated the symptoms not the problem. It wasn’t until I was 11 years old that my mother had done all she could and the next part I don’t know how it came about, but God guided my mother to a team of doctors in Dallas Children’s Medical Center. And one year later I was well. One year, three surgeries, and months of medical care and healing. By the end of my 7th grade year, I was a normal, healthy girl. I would like to say life was a dream after that, the perfect life. We all know there is nothing perfect in this life. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
That is almost cruel. In this world there will always be problems, God knew before He created it. Some people think God is cruel because he allows so much heartache, trials, and pain. But what if we didn’t have trials, tribulation, sickness, etc.? Would we ever know peace if we didn’t have trouble to compare it.
I have never seen God instantly part the troubles in my life for me to walk through unscathed. I have never received an instant answer to my prayers. But I have, when I open my heart to His answer and not my request, felt His peace and comfort surround me. God doesn’t speak to me through a burning bush, but He does calm my beating heart and gives me rest every night when I lay my head on my pillow.
Jesus loves me, this I know, the Bible tells me so and every morning His mercies are new and His love never waivers or fails. He is the rock I run to and the God who takes me into His arms and never lets go.
Faith is a noun that requires action; biblically it means; a belief and trust in God based on good evidence without total proof. Life doesn’t get easier because of faith, but it does give us strength to endure and even overcome whatever life give us. One of my favorite verses on faith… Now faith is the substance (assurance, reality, realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (certainty, conviction, proof, convinced, reality) of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
The reality we create comes only through faith or fear. Fear is easy to fall prey to; faith is an exercise that strengthens us when put to the test. Jesus told His followers when they questioned Him about their inability to help a demon-possessed boy. Jesus became frustrated with His disciples and said, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. Matthew 17:17-18
Jesus also told them the reason they could not help the boy, was because they had so little faith. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there; and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 19-20
Faith is meant to be powerful and like a muscle doesn’t grow strong without resistance and training, neither will our faith be powerful to overcome the trials and challenges we face in this life. Let us put our faith over our fears and overcome the obstacles that keep us from all the goodness of God and His plans for us.
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