Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
For so long, I lived in fear. The strange thing is, I didn’t even know I was living in fear — I just thought that was how life was. It wasn’t until I had a mental health breakdown that I realized something was deeply wrong.
Growing up, I was terrified of the dark and of being alone. It didn’t help that I lived in a part of the world where electricity supply was inconsistent. Nights could be long and pitch black, and fear seemed to grow stronger in those moments.
I was also terrified of death. I desperately wanted to live — even though I was raised in a Christian home and was born again. My grandmother lived with us at one point, and I still remember how she prayed every morning and night against “untimely and sudden death.” We prayed constantly against accidents, evil, and every imaginable tragedy.
While I now understand her intentions were rooted in faith and love, those prayers unknowingly planted fear deep in my subconscious. I grew up hearing stories of people who died just before their breakthrough or of someone who went out one morning and never returned home. These stories reinforced the belief that life was unpredictable and fragile — that something bad could happen at any moment. I just believed I must not die till I’m like 100 years old. I also believed it was a tragedy for someone to die before they are a good old age. I had a very black or white thinking!
I’m not saying those prayers or stories were necessarily wrong, but now I know better. We live in a fallen world where pain and tragedy exist. Being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from challenges or confusion. Jesus Himself said,
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 (NIV)
Living in Heart-Wrenching Fear
When I had my mental health breakdown, I lived in heart-wrenching, gripping fear and terror. It was as though fear had taken full control of my life. But through that dark season, God began to open my eyes to the roots of my fear.
I realized that deep down, I believed my religious performance could somehow protect me from evil or tragedy. I thought that if I read my Bible enough, prayed enough, attended every church service, or “did everything right,” then bad things wouldn’t happen to me or my loved ones.
I have lived in fear for so long and I didn’t even know it. Now I know better.
I used to think that people who went through painful situations just didn’t have enough faith or didn’t pray hard enough. But now I know better.
During that time, I was reading my Bible constantly — not from a place of love and relationship, but from fear and striving. I was trying to prove my worth to God, to earn His protection. If I missed church one Sunday or skipped a church event, guilt and condemnation would consume me.
But now I understand that Jesus Christ is my all in all — not religious performance, not constant church attendance, not the appearance of “doing everything right.” The Bible says:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV)
And also:
“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” — Acts 17:28 (NKJV)
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” —Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV)
I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know who holds tomorrow. My life is in His hands. I don’t have to perform. I don’t have to strive or attend every religious event to be loved by God. My worth is not in what I do — it’s in who I am in Christ.
Knowing this truth is so freeing. I actually thank God for allowing that mental breakdown, because through it, He exposed deep fears and wrong beliefs buried in my heart and subconscious. Even if I die today, I know that “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
Imagine if I had brought up my children in that same mindset — a faith rooted in fear and performance, where they would think their well-being depended on their “spiritual efforts.” That’s not the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is freedom, love, and rest in Him.
Now, I want to teach my children not to live in fear, but in faith. I want them to know that no matter what happens, they are safe in God’s love.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38–39 (NIV)
Freedom from Fear
I let fear rule me for so long, but not anymore. Fear has torment — and I have lived through that torment. But I now stand on the truth of God’s Word:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” —1 John 4:18 (NKJV)
Now I know that going through challenges doesn’t mean God has abandoned me. The apostles of old were persecuted for their faith, yet God was with them through it all.
This world will one day fade away — everything we chase after will eventually lose its value. What truly matters is eternity with Christ. That doesn’t mean we should neglect this life, but we must live it with the right perspective — anchored not in fear, but in faith and love.
Today, I choose faith over fear.
I choose to trust God completely — not because I understand everything, but because He does. I break free from the chains and shackles of fear. In Christ Jesus, I am free indeed.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” — Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
No more fear. Just peace in Christ.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the freedom that is in Christ. I am no longer a slave to fear, guilt and condemnation because I am free in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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