How can you live in faith and not fear? Let’s look at some mighty women and men of God who had faith, even when all seemed hopeless.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it, the people of old received their commendation. By faith, we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Hebrews 11: 1-3

1. Abraham Lived in Faith

“By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with the same promise.”

Hebrews 11:8-9

 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Genesis 22: 6-8

Abraham showed us two examples of faith over fear.

Abraham was one of the greatest bible characters who lived in faith and not fear.

God told Abraham to leave his home to go a new land. With great faith, Abraham left what he knew behind.

He believed that God would be faithful to what he had promised him–which was a prosperous and more bountiful land.

It would take so much faith for me to leave behind my home and everything I knew. I have lived in the same town my entire life, and if the Lord told me to leave because he had something better for me, I would hesitate. I would definitely be fearful!

“What about my job? My friends? My family? How will this all work out? How will my children adjust to such a change?!”

Can you see how all of those thoughts above are rooted in my fear and not my faith?

Abraham demonstrates faith over fear in his obedience.

Abraham was told to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice on the alter. It was customary in Old Testament times to offer sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins.

Abraham and his son travel up a mountain and head to the alter where Abraham is prepared to kill his child.

At the last second, as Abraham was about to strike his son, an animal appeared! God then told Abraham to offer the animal as the sacrifice, instead of his son.

Abraham and Isaac embraced and cried. They thanked God for offering another sacrifice!

As a parent, I cannot imagine being in Abraham’s shoes.

I imagine that Abraham was fearful as he climbed up that mountain with his son. We are humans, and we were created to have emotions. We were created to feel.

However, even though Abraham probably grieved for his son as they traveled up the mountain, he continued to put his faith in God.

Instead of living in fear, he lived in faith.

In Abraham’s life, God was always faithful.

And he will always be faithful in your life, too.

Can you think of ways he has already been faithful to you?

2. Sarah – By Faith She Conceived

“By faith, Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”

Hebrews 11:11

Sarah was Abraham’s wife. God promised her she would conceive a child—but she was in old age.

The bible tells us that by faith, she conceived a child.

Unfortunately, this isn’t to say that if you are trying to become pregnant you will magically have a child.

I wish I could say that this was so. My heart breaks for those who long to give birth or have children that are not able to yet.

But you see in Sarah’s case that God had specially promised her that she would bear a son. (I encourage you to read Sarah’s story in it’s entirety)

So what does this mean for us?

If God promised Sarah a son and through her faith she conceived, what does he promise you and I?

What does he promise us?

God’s Promises For Us

Romans 8:28— He works all things out for out good!

2 Timothy 1:7- He has not given us a spirit of fear.

Hebrews 4:16- We will receive the mercy and grace when we need it.

John 3:16 – Whoever believes in Christ will have eternal life in heaven.

Psalm 27:10 – The Lord will comfort us.

Philippians 4:6-7 – Through prayer and thankfulness, God will give us peace when we need it.

3. Jochebed- Moses’s Mother

 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

Hebrews 11:23

Jochebed demonstrated fearless faith when despite what Pharaoh ordered, hid her son for months after he was born. He was supposed to have been killed at birth!

She wasn’t afraid of what the King would do to her, she had faith in her God.

Oh to have fearless faith like this mom—to not be afraid of what people can do to you, but to put your trust in Jesus!

4. The Blind Man – Bartimaues

“Go,” said Jesus, “Your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:52

There was a man who was blind. He heard that Jesus was in his town.

He called out for Jesus to heal him, but the people around him in the village yelled at and told him to shut up!

Jesus heard his cries, and asked him,

“What is it that you need?”

The blind man, then asked for his sight to be healed.

I think it’s interesting that Jesus asked the blind man what he needed.

Jesus already knew what he needed.

But the blind man obeyed, and told Jesus what exactly what he needed.

Have you told Jesus what you need? Believing, in faith and not in fear, that it will be done for you?

Ask him for what you need!

Have you been living in faith or in fear?

I wish I could tell you that I always live in faith and not fear. But the truth is, that I don’t.

I get overwhelmed.

I get stressed.

And I definitely worry about things that have yet to happen.,

We recently had a cancer scare in my family, and I can tell you, the first thing I thought was not how faithful God was!

We are humans, and we fear.

The key to overcoming fear is by putting your faith in Christ, even when all seems hopeless.

Study the scriptures and find other bible characters who lived in faith and not fear!

Declare the promises God has for you and believe that he is with you in times of need—even when all seems hopeless.

I’m so thankful for these mighty men and women of God, who went before us, and showed us how to live in faith and not fear.

Do you know of any other bible characters who lived in faith and not fear?