Fear Not — Confidence When God Is With You
Key Text:
“Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.” — Jeremiah 1:6 (KJV)
Some people don’t struggle with confidence because they feel weak.
They struggle because they feel afraid.
Afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Afraid of being judged.
Afraid of stepping into responsibility.
Afraid of failing God.
Jeremiah understood that fear.
When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, Jeremiah didn’t argue about his background or ability. He focused on one thing—his fear.
“I am a child,” he said.
In other words: I’m too young. I’m not ready. I don’t know enough.
And God answered Jeremiah the same way He answered Moses and Gideon—not by removing the calling, but by promising His presence.
God Did Not Accept Jeremiah’s Fear as an Excuse
Jeremiah’s response sounds honest—and it was. But honesty does not cancel responsibility.
God replied:
“Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” — Jeremiah 1:7 (KJV)
Then God addressed the real issue:
“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee.” — Jeremiah 1:8 (KJV)
Notice what God did not say.
He didn’t say, “You’ll never feel afraid.”
He didn’t say, “Everyone will accept you.”
He didn’t say, “This will be easy.”
He said, “I am with thee.”
That is the foundation of biblical confidence.
Fear Focuses on Self — Faith Focuses on God
Fear always pulls our attention inward:
What if I mess up?
What if they don’t listen?
What if I’m not enough?
Faith redirects our attention upward:
God sent me.
God is with me.
God will help me.
Jeremiah didn’t become confident because he felt ready.
He became confident because he believed God’s presence was greater than his fear.
This truth still applies today.
Ellen G. White warns:
“Those who have not a daily experience in the things of God will not act with wisdom in the hour of trial.” — Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 427.
Fear grows when God feels distant.
Confidence grows when God’s presence feels real.
God’s Presence Changes Everything
Throughout Scripture, God gives the same promise again and again:
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee.” — Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
This is not poetic encouragement.
It is a divine assurance.
Fear loses power when we believe we are not alone.
Jesus repeated this same promise to His disciples:
“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” — Matthew 28:20 (KJV)
Confidence is not knowing everything.
It is knowing Who is with you.
Jeremiah’s Confidence Grew Over Time
Jeremiah did not suddenly become fearless. His ministry was difficult, lonely, and often rejected. He was mocked, threatened, imprisoned, and misunderstood.
But he kept going.
Why?
Because confidence rooted in God’s presence does not depend on results.
It depends on obedience.
Jeremiah learned that fear does not disappear when we obey—
but it loses control when we trust God more than our emotions.
Fear Is Not Sin — Letting Fear Stop You Is
Fear itself is not sin. Even Jesus felt deep emotional anguish in Gethsemane. The issue is not feeling fear—it is allowing fear to silence obedience.
God never said to Jeremiah, “You will never be afraid.”
He said, “Do not let fear stop you.”
Many young people feel called to:
speak for truth
pray out loud
share faith with friends
lead spiritually
stand for what’s right
But fear whispers, “Not you. Not now. Not like this.”
God’s answer is the same as it was to Jeremiah:
“I am with thee.”
Confidence Is Built Through Trust, Not Time
Some people think confidence comes with age, experience, or education. But Scripture shows us that confidence comes through trust.
Jeremiah was young.
David was young.
Mary was young.
The disciples were inexperienced.
God did not wait for them to mature first.
He matured them through obedience.
Ellen White writes:
“The greatest victories are gained through faith.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 203.
Faith chooses to trust God even when fear is present.
What This Means for You
If God is calling you to step into ministry, leadership, or service, fear does not mean you are unqualified.
It means you are human.
God is not asking you to be fearless.
He is asking you to be faithful.
You do not need confidence in yourself.
You need confidence in God’s presence.
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” — Psalm 118:6 (KJV)
Reflection Thought
Fear fades when God’s presence becomes real.
Confidence grows when you trust that He is with you—even when your voice shakes.
Prayer Thought:
“Lord, I feel afraid, but I trust Your promise. Help me stop focusing on my fear and start relying on Your presence. Give me courage to obey, knowing You are with me.”
Written by -
Pastor Jorge Alvarado