A few years ago I came face to face with the reality that fear was controlling my life. I believe this is the day I became a full-fledged fear fighter. 

I was listening to praise music while jogging on a beautiful Tahoe trail. The words to Kim Walker’s worship song, Oh How He Loves Us repeated over and over and began to churn up the deep wells of fear I had pushed down for so long. 

Fears I didn’t even know I had began to seep up and pour out in hyperventilating sobs as I confessed them each to God. 

Stagnant fears buried in the deep dark places of my heart which secretly questioned God’s love for me. And His goodness.

What I try not to see is the very thing God will use to set me free. Kelly Balarie

Lord, I”m so tired of being afraid of everything. Afraid of something bad happening, afraid of doing the wrong thing, afraid of what people will think of me, afraid to make wrong decisions. Afraid Afraid Afraid! Lord, help me. I don’t want to live in fear anymore. 

I ran up the hill breathing in God’s love for me and breathing out all my fears and doubts—the hill that so many times mirrored my journey as I struggled to run the race of life and make sense of all the sorrow in it and the fear I held inside me.

Why stay in the place where we brace ourselves for the next bad thing to happen to us? Kelly Balarie

I began to allow God’s voice to lead and direct my life above the voice of my fears and doubts. 

Ever since that day, I’ve been determined to be a fear fighter.

I started a blog. I am a fear fighter! @KellyBalarie #fearfightingbook Share on X

I went to counseling. I am a fear fighter!

I’m writing about facing my fears. I am a fear fighter!

I’m learning to set boundaries. I am a fear fighter!

I’m facing my intense fear of driving on unknown freeways to places I’ve never been. I am a fear fighter!

I joined launch teams for books I love, like Fear Fighting. I am a fear fighter!

I’m planning my first solo trip and taking a flight (I’ve never flown by myself and the last time I was on a plane was over 17 years ago) to meet blogging friends. I am a fear fighter!

I signed up to train for a half marathon a few weeks ago. I am a fear fighter!

This fear fighting thing is not easy. There are no easy answers. The way is different for everyone.   

So often we expect to come through to the other side of fear after being brave. 

Why do I think that a few gulps of courage and bravery will take my fear away?

The truth is, this fight will probably last until the day I die. And that’s ok.

I refuse to pigeonhole progress into something we call “finished.” The finish line is called heaven, where we will be perfected. While sometimes in life we take strides and find instant freedom, healing or deliverance, other times we pant, huff, and puff all the way over to victory. God knows this and he doesn’t condemn us for it. Kelly Balarie

It’s far less about having shiny circumstances or a picture of a sparkling future  or an image with no cracks and much more about the small choice to remove your shoes in faith, knowing God is planning goodness for you.

Fearless. This word much more means to fear less @KellyBalarie #fearfightingbook. Share on XThis word means to get just a tad more bold, an inkling more courageous, an ounce more vulnerable, and a grain more willing. Becoming fearless is done step-by-step.

Even though I may be in this fight for a long time, the good news is I will not fight alone.

I love how Kelly Balarie refers to our greatest weapon, the Holy Spirit, as our super spirit.

The Holy Spirit empowers, leads and fills us in the fight against fear. 

Fighting is not so much about doing religion—or trying or striving or thriving—as much as it is about doing every single, solitary thing to ensure that the love of Jesus and the power of the Spirit have first rights to your heart and over your flesh. Kelly Balarie

She talks about how the Holy Spirit arises to demolish fear inducers. 

In her book, Fear Fighting: Awakening Courage to Overcome Your Fears,

she explains how the Holy Spirit can demolish:

• The Devil—Smothering Power
• Control—I Have to Have It
• People Pleasing—You Will Like Me, No Matter What!
• Worry—If You Can’t Beat It, Worry About It
• Comparison and Competition—As Long As I am Better Than You
• Waiting While Trembling—I Don’t Know What Will Happen (But I Know It Can’t Be Good)
• Rejection and Opposition—They Have Issues
• The Past—I Hate That Place—Let’s Not Talk About It

I’ll be honest. The mere thought of facing certain fears has left me crying in my pillow at times. 

What looks like crying ground is often training ground for God’s transforming ground. @KellyBalarie #www.fearfightingbook.com Share on X

But the power of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of God’s great love for me has given me the strength to release my fear and step into active faith. And through this process, God has been transforming my life. 

It feels good to be in the fight. It feels good to say, “I am a fear fighter.” Try saying it now…. I am a Fear Fighter!

It also feels good to know that we don’t struggle alone. We can fight fear together.

Let’s help each other up when we fall down. Let’s be in prayer for each other as we put on our armor and get ready to battle toward faith while treading on fear.

We are fear fighters!

I really enjoyed reading Kelly Balarie’s book, Fear Fighting. I know you will be blessed by her encouragement as she shares how to combat some of the familiar obstacles that get in our way as we fight fear.

About the book, Fear Fighting, Awakening the Courage to Overcome Your Fears:

Author and Speaker, Kelly Balarie didn’t always fight fear – for a large part of her life, she was controlled by it. Yet, in her book, Fear Fighting: Awakening Courage to Overcome Your Fears, with God, Kelly charts a new course. Join Kelly, on the journey to go and grow with Christ’s bravery, the Spirit’s counsel and God’s unending love that squelches fear. This book reads like a love letter from God, while offering practical heart-calming prayers, anxiety-reducing tips, and courage-building decrees that will transform your day. www.fearfightingbook.com

About Kelly Balarie:

Kelly is both a Cheerleader of Faith and a Fighter of Fear. She leans on the power of God, rests on the shoulder of Christ, and discovers how to glow in the dark places of life. Get all Kelly’s blog posts by email or visit her on her blog, Purposeful Faith. You can also find a variety of resources for your fight against fear here.  

I also hope you will join me here on the blog in January through March for the Trading Fear for Faith series!