By Ashley Parmer
The Bible contains dozens of verses with the same basic message: Do not fear. Yet often, even as Christians, we wrestle with fear.
In her second book, Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves, Trillia Newbell draws attention to the common fears wreaking havoc in our lives. In each instance—whether it’s the fear of man, a fear of some future tragedy occurring, or any number of other fears—she shares stories from her own life and the lives of others to help assure readers they are not alone in their battle against fear.
With God’s Word as her guide, Newbell examines each fear and the sin that can result from allowing our fears to rule over us. She reminds us that even mature Christians continue to battle fear throughout their lives. It’s a battle only won by faith.
Facts & Trends sat down with Newbell and asked her to talk about her book and how it can help us overcome our fears by faith.
Facts & Trends: What motivated you to write Fear and Faith?
Trillia Newbell: Fear is something I’ve struggled with most of my life. What I’ve realized is I’m far from being alone in this fight. I wrote the book because I wanted to encourage the faith of readers through my story, the stories of others, and the truth of God’s Word.
F&T: What have you learned in writing this book?
Newbell: Fear is universal. I knew it was a common struggle, but the response has been such that I now believe it’s a temptation for almost everyone. If I wrote a Fear and Faith: Part Two—the first chapter might be on finding our identity in Christ as we seek to fight these fears, especially the fear of not measuring up.
F&T: What do you hope readers will take away from reading Fear and Faith?
Newbell: The book is geared mainly toward women. I thought it was important to focus on the various fears many women battle, such as the fear of not measuring up and body image, since I am a woman and can relate to these struggles.
But, as I’ve heard from more and more readers, I’ve discovered the book can be a great benefit to men as well. Men can relate to many of the fears addressed, and it can also help men understand the fears more unique to women, so they can better serve and encourage the women in their lives.
I hope readers finish the book more encouraged in their faith, more grounded in the character of God, and more equipped to handle doubts when they come.
F&T: What’s at the root of most of our fears? And how do we overcome that?
Newbell: When we dig deeply into our hearts, we discover much of our fear is rooted in unbelief. It’s hard to feel like we aren’t in control, it’s hard to trust, and it’s difficult to wait. We’d much rather be in control, but we aren’t. We don’t know the future, and we can’t control the actions of others. Unchecked, this can lead to anxiety and fear.
Often our fears are little proclamations that God is not good enough or wise enough to handle the things we’re anxious about. And then we tend to focus on what we’re afraid of, which only causes our fears to grow. I think that’s why Isaiah tells us to set our minds on God and we will experience peace (see Isaiah 26:3). What we focus on grows.
Overcoming fear is a lifelong process of confessing it to the Lord and asking Him for fresh faith to believe His promises.
F&T: You write there is one fear we should grow in—the fear of the Lord. How do we grow in our fear of the Lord?
Newbell: I used to associate the fear of the Lord with being afraid of God. The fear of the Lord, as I understand it now, is an awareness and acknowledgment of God’s holiness, and a response of worship. God is set apart. He is the one true God, worthy of our devotion. To fear the Lord is to adopt a posture of reverential awe and surrender.
We must ask Him to help us see His majestic holiness. We should, of course, reflect on all His other characteristics as well, but His holiness, I believe, is a great starting place for learning to fear Him (see Isaiah 6).
Practically speaking, I think meditating on His Word, worshiping, and praying can help expand our vision of God. And as we grow in our understanding of our awesome God, we will also grow in our reverence of Him. When that happens, there’s not much room in our hearts for fears to enter in.
Previously at Facts & Trends, Newbell wrote “United by Love: How Diversity Reflects the Kingdom of God” and “How the Church Can Lead the Charge Against Racism.”
ASHLEY PARMER is a writer and student at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee.
