Can Faith and Fear Co-Exist?

The whole story of David and Goliath is found in 1 Samuel 17. For today I only want to highlight the reaction of the Israelite army. 

“Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, ‘Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.’ Then the Philistine said, ‘This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.’ On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified” (1 Samuel 17:8-11, emphasis added).

The Israelites, upon facing their Goliath, were dismayed and terrified. They felt a sense of hopelessness because in that moment they believed they were facing an enemy that they could not overcome. This is how we often react to life’s situations. Sometimes the situation is so big or overwhelming, or at least it appears that way, and our reaction is fear, terror, or dismay. These types of challenges come in all shapes and sizes. They could be health related. It could be financial. It could be relationship related. It could be about your purpose or your ministry. It could be about almost anything in life. Regardless of what it is, what comes with it, just like these Israelites, is the reality of fear.

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The truth is fear is probably more common than we like to admit. However, it can be very difficult for Christians sometimes to admit that they have fear. After all if fear kicks in then that means I have lost all my faith. If I am afraid then I can’t be walking in faith. There is an underlying pressure to never admit when you are afraid because you are a man or woman of God and true men and women of God should never be afraid. It is almost as if you feel that if you tell someone you are facing fear, the response is going to be what’s wrong with you? Snap out of it. Walk in faith. Some may even try to convince you that being afraid means you have a complete lack of faith.

It is this fear (no pun intended) of being judged that causes people to walk around with a false sense of bravado. Inside they are terrified and dismayed, but outwardly they are strong and mighty.

I want to clarify something for you. Fear does not make you an unbeliever or a weak Christian. Fear makes you human. The good part is that God understands your humanity and that is why all throughout Scripture he is constantly reminding his people to fear not or do not be afraid. My point is if you are afraid or fearful it is ok to admit it. God will not reject you because you are afraid, however he also doesn’t want you living in a perpetual state of fear either.

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So let’s deal with the question can faith and fear co-exist? The short answer is yes. Let’s look at this happening by going back to our story.

Steps of faith

“Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other” (1 Samuel 17:20-21).

The Israelites took a step of faith. They lined up for battle. They shouted the war cry. They drew up battle lines to face the Philistines. These were all steps of faith. You might do the same thing. Maybe you spend the morning worshipping. You read God’s word. You go to church faithfully. You take all the steps of faith you know to take, and you do it with the right intentions and motivations. Unfortunately, there is more to the story.

Steps of fear

“As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear” (1 Samuel 17:23-24).

Despite all their good intentions, despite lining up for battle and getting into the battle position even shouting the war cry, that all changed when Goliath showed up. As you can see, when he showed up their faith disappeared and in fear they all ran away. This can happen to you too. You walk back into that situation filled with faith ready to fight the challenge. The problem however is that once Goliath shows up, in spite of your best intentions, your faith goes out the window. This exposes that within your heart is this reality of faith and fear co-existing.

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One thing to remember is that faith is not the absence of fear. Faith is simply believing God in spite of the fear. In other words, faith becomes bigger than your fear. David said something interesting in the Psalms.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3).

Notice that David said when I am afraid, not if I am afraid. This means the same David, the Goliath conquering David who ran towards Goliath with five stones to conquer him, also experienced fear. If this existed in a warrior like David, then certainly this can exist in you. Like David, you will have moments in your life where you will waiver between faith and fear. Sometimes this wavering happens moment by moment.

I want to share something with you I don’t think I have ever heard anyone say before. You should never apologize for being fearful because that is where you are in that moment. The question isn’t “are you afraid,” the question is “what do you do with that fear?” David gives us the answer. Put your trust in God.

Look closely at what David declares. He is literally saying God I am afraid, but I am trusting you. In these moments there is a wrestling match in your soul between faith and fear. The more you focus on the cause of your fear, the more your fear will grow. The more you focus on God and trusting him, the more your faith grows. Whatever becomes the object of your focus is what will win. When you see God as greater, faith wins. When you see your situation as greater, fear wins.

So yes, faith and fear can co-exist in the heart of a believer at the same time. The difference is you cannot operate in both at the same time. One of these will overtake the other. If faith is greater, fear may be present, but since faith is greater you operate in faith which overcomes the fear. The reverse of this is also true. If fear is greater, faith may be present, but your fear cancels out your faith and you operate in fear. The issue then isn’t do you have faith and fear, the question is which one will win? Only you can answer that question.

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I want to re-emphasize a point. If and when you are fearful, admit it. Don’t hide it. Don’t fake it, but be honest about it. In those fearful moments run to your heavenly Father who can give you what you need to embolden you in the middle of your situation. God won’t reject you because you are afraid, instead he will embrace and equip you so you don’t have to be afraid anymore. He loves you that much and if you come to him in honesty with your fears, he will help you overcome them and give you great faith in its place. As I was writing this article a friend of mine, Nancy Sabato, who has a podcast entitled The Call with Nancy Sabato, reminded me of this wonderful verse. I will leave this verse with you.

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

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