Afraid to Obey God?
Why fear shouldn’t be your stop sign
Are you waiting to feel ready? Have you ever felt called to something, but fear kept you from stepping out? Maybe you’ve sensed God asking you to:
➡ Speak up.
➡ Start something new.
➡ Step into leadership.
➡ Say yes to an opportunity that scares you.
But instead of moving forward, you hesitate because you thought: What if I fail?
What if I’m not good enough? What if I get it wrong?
Would it surprise you that author, speaker, and co-founder of Her True Worth, a thriving online ministry that empowers women to break free from cultural expectations and find their identity in Christ, Britt Maher has wrestled with these same fears. She saw firsthand how society pressures women to seek their worth in appearance, achievement, and approval. But through her own struggles she discovered a powerful truth—our worth isn’t earned; it’s given by God.
Britt spoke with the Family Life Radio morning show about when she was given the opportunity to write a book, her first instinct wasn’t excitement. “Writing books presented a whole new world of discomfort for me.” She wanted to run from it.
But she learned something life-changing. God isn’t waiting for you to be fearless—He’s waiting for you to be obedient.
Many of us believe the lie that if we’re really called to something, we should feel confident, equipped, and fearless. So when fear shows up, we think, Maybe this isn’t for me after all.
Britt shared, “I felt a lot of discomfort. I felt a lot of inadequacy. But the Bible says, ‘In our weakness, His strength is made complete’” (2 Corinthians 12:9 paraphrased).
Feeling afraid isn’t proof that you’re not called—it’s proof that you need to rely on God.
Why We Stay Stuck
One of the biggest reasons people hesitate to step out in faith is perfectionism.
If I can’t do it perfectly, I shouldn’t do it at all.
If I don’t have all the answers, I’m not ready yet.
Britt knows this struggle well. When she was asked to design artwork for a devotional book, she immediately thought, “Shouldn’t I have an art degree to do this?” Even though God had gifted her with creativity, she hesitated because she didn’t feel fully qualified. She kept deleting her designs, redoing them, and never feeling like they were good enough.
And then, she had a realization. “Perfection is like a mirage—it’s never reachable. And yet, we chase after it as if it’s a destination.”
If you wait for perfection, you’ll never move forward.
“When I got to the end of myself, that’s when the Holy Spirit reminded me: ‘Just do this as an act of worship.’”
Faith Requires Action—Even When You’re Afraid
Sometimes, we overthink what obedience looks like. We want every step mapped out before we move. But Britt reminded us that faith isn’t about knowing the whole plan—it’s about trusting the One who does.
She pointed to the story of Peter walking on water. “We see Peter stepping out of the boat as this huge leap of faith. But before that, he had all these micro-moments of trust—watching Jesus turn water into wine, heal the sick. Those little moments built his faith.”
When Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked on water. But when he looked at the storm, he sank. Britt asked, “Are we building that trust first? Or are we jumping ahead, trying to figure it all out before we move?”
Faith is about stepping out before we feel ready.
You Don’t Have to Be Ready
Britt never planned on writing a book. She never saw herself as an author. But God opened the door, and she had a choice. She could say no because it was scary and uncomfortable. Or, she could say yes and trust Him with the outcome.
“I never even thought about doing this before, but God was opening the door. And I felt like He had to really scoop me in because I was like, ‘I don’t know about this!’”
What if the thing you’re afraid of is actually your next step of purpose?
How to Step Out in Faith—Even When You’re Afraid
Fear is normal. But fear doesn’t get to be in charge of your life.
Here’s how to move forward despite fear:
1. Stop waiting to feel ready.
If you’re waiting for fear to disappear before you obey God, you’ll be waiting forever. Britt realized, “If I wait to be fearless, I’ll never move.”
Faith isn’t the absence of fear—it’s moving forward despite fear.
2. Take one small step.
Britt believes big faith starts with small acts of obedience. “If you don’t know what to do, just be faithful with what’s in your hands right now.”
Ask yourself:
✔ What’s one step I can take today?
✔ Who can I encourage?
✔ What small act of obedience is in front of me?
3. Surrender the outcome to God.
Fear often comes from wanting to control the outcome. But you don’t have to know how it will all work out—God does. Britt said, “Doing it scared is a sacred thing because you’re relying on the Holy Spirit, not your strength.” (29:11)
Your Calling is about Trust
If God is asking you to do something that feels scary, uncomfortable, or too big, you’re in the right place. Because God doesn’t call us to comfort—He calls us to trust. And trust always requires a step of faith.
So what’s your next step? Even if you’re afraid, will you say yes anyway? God isn’t looking for the fearless—He’s looking for the faithful.
Connect with Britt Maher on Insta.
You can also check out her books here.
Want more? Check out our ondemand resources
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