Faith Over Fear: What to Do When God’s Plan Feels Terrifying

FEAR is a Liar

I stayed in a job that was draining the life out of me, mentally, emotionally, and even physically, because the unknown felt scarier than the misery I knew. You ever been there?

For me, that place was a high-pressure, narcissistic environment as a probation officer. Every day I told myself, “Just get through it.” But over time, I wasn’t getting through it, I was breaking down. The stress started showing up in ways I couldn’t ignore, and I knew God had something better... but fear kept whispering, “You’re too old. You’re too late. You can’t start over at 55.”  Let me tell you something: fear almost won. Almost.

Leaving a steady job with benefits at 55 to start a t-shirt business wasn’t exactly on my original vision board. (If it had been, I would’ve added “flawless skin and endless youth” while I was at it.)  But one day, it was like God said, “Enough. You know I didn’t build you to live burned out and boxed in.”

So, I leapt. Terrified and barely hanging on to a thread of a plan. But I leapt.  And just when I started to think, “Okay, maybe I’ve got this,” and I had dumped every dime I'd saved into launching the first version of SFC, I realized I had made several costly errors!

Lessons were learned. Shirts were wasted.

I almost didn’t rebrand because I was so afraid I’d mess it up again. But I told myself something that has carried me through since:

"If you remain consistent and faithful, it will work out. Maybe not the way you planned, but the way God intended."

The Med School of Mistakes

You know what helped me push past fear? The sudden realization that every profession requires training. No one becomes a doctor without med school. No one becomes a master print artist without melting a few collars and misprinting “Faith” as “Farth.”

The last three years? They were my training years; my (business) med school. And now, with a deeper understanding and a whole lot of print scars, I get to diagnose real problems and offer real solutions.

The Devil Tries, But God Wins

Let’s not sugarcoat it, it’s still a battle. The enemy shows up with whispers like: “You’re not good enough”, “Others are more qualified”, and “Why would anyone choose you?”

But when that voice gets loud, I go back to the One who made me, and I ask for clarity and strength. Because I’m not here to crawl behind anyone. My life? My business? My purpose? It’s mine to walk in, boldly, faithfully, and yes, even fearfully at times.

When Fear Still Knocks

Fear still pops up in my business.  It’s there when I quote a big job, when I try something new or hit “publish” on my website or a post. It’s loudest when I compare myself to those bigger brands with shinier budgets and warehouse-sized teams. But I'm learning to manage fear differently now. I pause and pray, make a checklist (because God still speaks through bullet points) and I remind myself: God did not bring me this far to drop me on my head.

If you're frozen in fear right now, friend, and fear is keeping you from stepping forward into recovery, into business, into healing, let me say this: We don’t crawl before anyone and you are just as deserving as the next person to live a life that is full, redeemed, and overflowing with purpose. So, get out there... and get you some!

Consistency is louder than fear (I think I just found my new t-shirt) and although it may not be glamorous, it is powerful. Consistency is also the one thing fear can’t compete with!

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

— Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

I always told my children while they were growing up, and I often have to draw on it myself, "giving up is never an option."

Until Next Time,

Andrea