In good times my faith feels strong and unshakable — when I can say with conviction that I trust God completely. Then something concerning arrives: an unexpected email, a piece of news, a whisper of uncertainty — and suddenly my instinct is to duck and cover. I retreat to an old familiar habit: worry. I run to the shelter of prediction, trying to outthink what I cannot control.
And when I do, a quiet voice in me whispers, “You see? You’re not as faithful as you thought. You’re a fraud.”
But maybe that’s not true. Maybe faith isn’t proven in the moments when I feel serene, but in the moments when my peace is challenged. Maybe faith is choosing, again and again, to lift my head from behind the wall of fear and look toward the One who still stands in the storm.
Even the disciples who walked beside Jesus were terrified when the wind rose. Peter believed enough to step out of the boat, but he still sank when fear took his eyes off Christ. And yet, Jesus didn’t condemn him — He reached out and lifted him up. Faith, it seems, is less about never sinking and more about knowing Who will catch you when you do.
So when I duck and cover, I remind myself: it’s not proof of weak faith, but a sign that I still have something sacred left to surrender. Each time I return to trust, I return to God.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”
— Psalm 56:3
Dear Lord,
When fear finds me crouched in worry, lift my eyes back to You.
Teach me that faith isn’t pretending I’m fearless — it’s knowing You’re faithful.
Help me release control of what I cannot see and rest in Your steady hand.
When I duck and cover, remind me that You are still my shelter,
not the fear that drove me to hide.
Amen.
