When Fear Takes Over: How to Find Peace (Even When You Don’t Have Answers Yet)

Fear.
It’s one of those emotions that can sneak up out of nowhere and suddenly take over your whole body. 👀

It doesn’t whisper—it shouts:
“What if this is bad?”
“What if this is it?”

That happened to me just last week. I was in the shower when I noticed something wasn’t quite right with my body. Something had changed—and it hurt. My mind immediately started racing: What’s happening? What if it’s serious?

I called my doctor’s office and found out she was out of town for the week. Her nurse reassured me that I’d be fine to wait, but also warned me about one particular symptom that would mean, “Go to the ER right away.”
Thank heavens that symptom never came. 🙏

Still, I had seven long days to wait—and plenty of time for my mind to create scary stories.

Fear Is a Human Response

I was afraid. And when fear takes the lead, I know exactly what happens—I get snippy, short-tempered, and controlling. 😅

Fear is powerful. It doesn’t feel good, and it pushes our brains into protection mode.
We default to one of three instinctive reactions: fight, flee, or freeze.

• Fight might look like getting angry, defensive, or controlling.

• Flee might look like distracting yourself—scrolling, staying busy, or working too much.

• Freeze might look like overthinking, shutting down, or avoiding decisions altogether.

None of that makes us weak. It just means we’re human.

But when fear stays in charge, we start reacting instead of responding.
And that’s when we get stuck—fighting shadows instead of seeking solutions, compassion, and care for ourselves while we wait for clarity. 💛

Fear Is Not the Final Word

After a few days of spinning in worry, I remembered something I’ve taught right here on this podcast: The story is still being written.

What my brain wanted to label as “the end” was really just a paragraph—or maybe a single line—in a much bigger story that Heavenly Father and I are still writing together.

My body misbehaving isn’t the whole story. It’s my body doing what bodies do—changing, aging, adapting. It doesn’t mean I have to love it, but knowing it’s natural makes it less scary.

Here’s the best part:
My story gets bigger when I do all I can and collaborate with God.

When fear says, “This is it,” I can say, “No—we’re still writing.”
Because as long as God and I hold the pen together, there’s always room for hope, for healing, and for new chapters. ✨

Collaborating with God

We’re not the first women to face fear in our bodies—or in our lives.

In Mark chapter 5, we meet a woman who had been suffering for twelve years with a painful medical condition. Twelve years of exhaustion, discouragement, and fear. Scripture says she “spent all she had” on doctors, yet nothing helped.

She had every reason to give up.
But she didn’t. She kept taking the next step she could.

Then she heard about Jesus. The stories, the miracles, the compassion.
And something sparked inside her—not denial, not pretending she was fine, but faith.

She said quietly, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.”

So she pushed through the crowd—fearful, but determined—and touched the hem of His garment.
Immediately, she felt she was healed.

When Jesus turned and asked, “Who touched me?” she fell before Him trembling—still afraid—and told Him everything.
And He said: “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”

She was still afraid.
But fear didn’t disqualify her.
Fear didn’t stop the miracle.

Faith carried her through fear—not around it. 🙌

That’s what collaboration with God looks like.
We do what we can: go to the appointments, gather information, pray, study, ask for help.
And we trust Him with what we can’t.

Her story wasn’t over at year one, or five, or eleven.
The story was still being written.
And when Jesus entered the page—everything changed.

How to Move Through Fear

While my fear came from something happening inside my body, I know your fear might sound completely different.

Maybe it’s:
💭 “What if I never get married?”
💭 “What if I grow old alone?”
💭 “What if I can’t provide for myself?”
💭 “What if everyone moves on without me?”
💭 “What if I’m too much… or not enough?”

Whatever it looks like for you, here’s a simple framework to help you move through it instead of getting stuck in it.

Step 1: Notice It

Say to yourself, “I’m feeling fear right now.”
That small phrase reminds you fear is an experience, not an identity.

Step 2: Name What’s Behind It

Ask, “What thought is making me afraid?”
Fear isn’t created by the situation—it’s created by the meaning you give it.

Step 3: Nurture It

Fear isn’t something to conquer; it’s something to comfort.
Ask, “What do I need right now?” Maybe it’s reassurance, rest, information, prayer, or just a few deep breaths.

Step 4: Navigate Forward

Once you’ve noticed, named, and nurtured, take one small, faith-led step.
Make the call. Send the message. Pray. Write. Rest.

Navigation isn’t dramatic—it’s steady.
It’s choosing faith-led action instead of fear-led reaction.

Final Thought 💛

When you practice these steps, you stop letting fear write the story.
You take the pen back—side by side with God.

You’re no longer freezing, running, or fighting shadows.
You’re responding.
You’re supported.
You’re guided.

And you’re moving forward—not because fear is gone, but because faith is present. ✨