From Tension to Trust: 5 Days of Trading Fear for FaithÀpẹrẹ

From Tension to Trust: 5 Days of Trading Fear for Faith

Ọjọ́ 2 nínú 5

Fear is a hungry thing.

It grows quickly. It feeds on worst-case scenarios, late-night overthinking, and every little thing we can’t control.

Left unchecked, fear becomes the loudest voice in the room. It chokes out reason, hope, and sometimes even prayer.

But here’s something that changed everything for me: whatever we feed, grows.

Imagine your soul like a garden. Every day, seeds are being planted—some by God, some by the world, and some by our own anxious thoughts. Fear and faith both take root here. And they both grow stronger depending on what we water.

Fear grows when we feed it.

It sprouts from the “what ifs,” takes root in endless striving, and stretches toward control. It thrives when we imagine worst-case scenarios, jump to conclusions, and try to outrun uncertainty. I’ve found myself there many times. Tending the wrong rows. Watering worry. Fertilizing frustration. Trying to force outcomes instead of trusting God. The more I focus on fear, the faster it grows.

But faith? Faith flourishes when we tend to it intentionally.

When we pause to pray. When we reflect on God’s past faithfulness. When we speak truth instead of spinning stories. That’s when trust starts to grow strong and deep, like roots in good soil.

Philippians 4:6-7 gives us a beautiful blueprint for cultivating peace:

  1. Talk to God about everything.
  2. Thank him for what he’s already done.
  3. Let his peace guard your heart and mind.

It’s a gardening rhythm: plant, water, wait. Then trust the growth to God.

These days, like you, I serve others in ways that carry real weight. Business decisions, ministry needs, caregiving roles. And it’s tempting to believe that the fruit depends on us. That if we don’t get everything just right, everything will fall apart.

But friend, we’re not the gardener. God is.

Our job isn’t to make things grow. It’s to faithfully tend what he’s given us. To pull the weeds of fear, water the seeds of faith, and trust that he is at work beneath the surface.

Neuroscience affirms what Scripture has said all along: what we repeatedly focus on rewires our brain. Gratitude, prayer, and presence calm the mind and create new pathways of peace. So when we return our attention to who God is instead of what might happen, we’re retraining both our hearts and our minds.

So today, take a walk through your garden.

Where has fear crept in? What thoughts or stories have you been watering? And what small act of faith can you tend to instead?

You don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to keep showing up in the garden, one day at a time.

Reflection:

  • What’s one thing you need to talk to God about today instead of worrying?
  • What’s something God has already done that you can thank Him for?
  • Where do you need His peace to guard your heart and mind right now?

Prayer:
Lord, you are the gardener of my soul. I confess that I often water the weeds instead of the seeds of faith you’ve planted. Help me turn my attention to what is good and true. Teach me to nurture trust instead of fear, and to believe that even when I can’t see it, you are growing something beautiful. Amen.

What if tension wasn’t the enemy, but a signal and a guide? Tomorrow, we’ll practice a rhythm that gently leads you back to the steady presence of God—even when fear tries to take the lead.

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From Tension to Trust: 5 Days of Trading Fear for Faith

Feeling stretched, anxious, or stuck in the in-between? From Tension to Trust is a 5-day devotional that meets you right where you are. With Scripture, neuroscience insights, and simple, grace-filled rhythms, you’ll learn how to pause, pay attention to the tension, and find rest in God's presence. This plan by Kim Avery will help you trade pressure for peace and take steady steps toward deeper trust in Him.

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