How can we overcome the fear of the unknown?
We want and pray for change – to start a new career, to restore a relationship, to learn a new skill, to write a book, and to heal. The fulfillment of our goals, desires, and God’s promises means change and venturing into the unknown. Often, what holds us back and is our greatest enemy is the fear of the unknown.
Fear of the Unknown – Meaning
What is the fear of the unknown and why does it have such an effect on us?
One of the main reasons is that the fear of the unknown has its origin in our basic need for safety and security. Somehow, we have adopted the wrong idea that security equals comfort and predictability, and a lack of uncertainty. To achieve this, we try to control people and circumstances, which only leads to anxiety and increases fear.
However, our need for security and safety can be fully met only in Christ. When we make God our refuge and acknowledge Him as our safe dwelling place now and forever, we are breaking free from false security.
The fear of the unknown very often goes together with the fear of failure and the fear of the future, as well as the fear of life. In Christ God is leading us in freedom and the truth in His word is the best weapon to overcome the fear of the unknown.
The First Step – Accepting the Reality
The first step in overcoming the fear of the unknown is to examine our ideas of safety and security and align them with some basic Biblical truths:
- The fulfilling life, growth, and development we want are outside our comfort zone. God has not called us to a mediocre, predictable, and comfortable life. He has called us to a way of life as sojourners and pilgrims, living by faith and not by sight. (1 Peter 2:11)
- The only constant thing in life is change. We are designed for change and growth. It is good for us and it brings us countless benefits. It is best for us to accept and develop a growth mindset.
- Change means leaving the familiar and venturing into the unknown, into unfamiliar and uncharted land. Walking into uncharted land requires faith and a support system outside ourselves that is greater than we are.
Trusting God is the path to overcome the fear of the unknown.
More Biblical Truths to Disperse the Fear of the Unknown
- We are not alone on the way. We have a Helper, Companion, the perfect Guide, a wonderful Counsellor, Teacher, and Instructor, available and ready to help 24/7. He guides us in all truth and shows us things to come. (John 16:13)
- The unknown is unknown only to us but not to God. He knows everything.
- Our insecurities are not defining us. We are already whole and complete as children of God. Jesus plus you equals wholeness.
- God is not limited by time. He has been in our past, and He knows and prepares our future. In fact, as a Way-maker, He is going before us, preparing, and leading the way.
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Strategies to Overcome the Fear of the Unknown
Aligning our ideas of safety with God’s and making Him our safe place gives us a stable platform in life. From here, we can continue in the overcoming process by applying these biblical strategies:
- Developing God-confidence by changing the focus from our own limitations to God’s unlimited wisdom and power. We learn not to rely on ourselves but to put our trust in God by exercising faith.
- Choosing trust versus control. This means we need to submit our way to God and release the control acknowledging His leadership, making Him God over our unknowns.
- Recalling, thinking, and meditating on Bible verses and promises regarding the fear of the unknown. You can learn what the Bible says about the fear of the unknown in the previous post. God’s Word is telling us that if we love and live His truths, we will have great peace and nothing will make us stumble. (Psalm 119:165)
- Practicing steps of faith. All we need is to start with just a step. Then the next and the next. The more we practice making choices motivated by faith and not by fear, the easier it will get. We will gain new confidence, which will boost our motivation and will invigorate us.
- Understanding that this is a life-long process. The fear of the unknown may always attack with every new situation but when we are grounded in the truth and apply it, we can learn how to deal with it every time.
More Encouragement for You
If you need more resources and encouragement to help you overcome your fears and become a person of faith and courage, I can highly recommend these books. Check them out.
Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings by Hadassah Treu
Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk
Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert
Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge
All Things New by John Eldredge
Transforming Your Thought Life by Sarah Geringer
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Forward: Discovering God’s Presence and Purpose in Your Tomorrow by David Jeremiah
Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics by William Lane Craig
Extinguishing the Spirit of Fear: 30 Devotions to Battle Fear and Anxiety by Devotable
Before You Quit: Everyday Endurance, Moral Courage, and the Quest for Purpose by Doug Gehman
This page contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. The commission I make from these items will help keep this blog going. Thank you!
Your Turn
Do you struggle with fear of the unknown? Which of these strategies is the most helpful for you? If you find this post helpful, please comment and share it on social media. Thanks!
The truths in God's word are the best weapon to overcome the fear of the unknown. #Truth #Bible #BibleStudy #SpiritualGrowth Share on X Walking into the unknown requires trusting God and being grounded in the truth. #fears #encouragement #trustGod Share on XDo you want to watch this post as a vlog? Click HERE. If you found it helpful, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Thanks!
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Dread is brought into the world of Satan, and on the off chance that we would just require some investment to figure a second, we would see that all that Satan says is established upon a deception.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Wendy! Yes, you are right: deception is the main weapon of the devil. Blessings to you!
Beautiful! We are not alone on the way, and our insecurities are not defining us. Glory be to God!
Thank you, Betty! So true! It is good to recall this truth more often when fear is attacking us.
Practicing baby steps of faith is a big help for me. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with change or challenges. If I slow down and just look at the first, small step, I find myself moving forward before I know I’ve done it.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Katrina! Yes, we need just to do the next right thing we know, and then the next. And with each step, we get clarity and more peace.
I often struggle with needing to control my situation. Having confidence in God reminds me that regardless of what is in or out of my control, God has total control. Putting my trust in Him whether or not I see what’s ahead, releases the pressure off of myself.
Thank you so much for sharing here, Brandi! I can relate. I have noticed that very often when I struggle with anxiety, I need to release the control and surrender the issue to God. Then I can come back to peace.
I love every single one of these strategies! I struggle with fear of the unknown (my mind seems to spin and spin.) But learning to trust God instead of try to control life is helping (a little bit at a time!)
Thank you so much, Rebecca! Yes, it is an ongoing process. With every step that we make in direction to trust God and stay grounded in His truth, we overcome this fear and make progress.
I loved this piece on overcoming fear of the unknown! What great perspective on the role that predictability and comfort play in this. I agree this is so true! We do need to focus on God-confidence and trust in His plans and His truths! Thanks so much for this, I really needed this today!
Thank you so much for your encouraging words, Pamela! I struggle often with my cravings for predictability as a way to feel safe and secure. The more I know God and learn to focus on the safety and stability of His presence, the easier it gets to fight the fear of the unknown.
“Choosing trust versus control.” I would choose as the main strategy. As you mentioned, in HIM we have “a Helper, Companion, the perfect Guide, a wonderful Counsellor, Teacher, and Instructor, ”
Thx for this words
Thank you! Yes, learning to release control and choosing to trust God every time about everything is definitely the most essential element of the life of faith.