Welcome to The Heart Blog! 
Praying you find some love, truth, and Heart encouragements!

Additional Resources over on HeartsFromGod.com

physical healing

Fear vs Faith

Let’s talk about Overcoming fear when fear is how you see the world around you. For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with fear. Anyone else have a Boogie Man they never actually saw? Well meaning friends would say things like just Let Go and Let God, It’ll be fine, There’s nothing to worry about…and yet, I feared without knowing how to manage it. 


In the next few blogs, we will talk about different fears, what it looked like in my own life and why you can’t just “Do it” or “Have Faith.” Instead of dismissing someone’s fears or anxious thoughts, let’s take time to understand and teach people how to equip themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually, empowering them to manage their fear rather than dismiss them as silly.



Physical Fear



I grew up in a school where fist fights during the lunch break were a daily thing, bullies ran the hallways, assaults in our community seemed overwhelming. 


As a young girl, the fear was real and there seemed to be no escaping it. I felt it was just a matter of time before I innocently fell victim to the whim of evil. As I grew older, watching the news was only affirmation that we lived in an unsafe and powerful world and strong people were threats to my personal safety. I believe I also had strong intuitions and the gift of discernment, able to feel the evil nearby. 


My soul was cornered by fear, terrified to live but happy to be alive if that even makes sense. I imagine if you have experienced fear, you do.


What did I do when I didn't know what to do? 


Two things in the beginning: Hid and avoided when I could or I stepped into the environment terrified and on edge.


Over the years, I I did what I could to avoid people or environments that involved intense emotions, violence, power, anger, and places alcohol was center stage. Think sports venues, concerts, festivals, bars, and friend's parties. I controlled what I could, missing out on some good experiences maybe, but you don't know what you're missing when you're not there right?!


Making the wrong move in public, saying something negative to someone, feeling angry myself, being around large groups, being around people who were drinking, hearing people argue, watching wrestling or boxing on tv or in real life triggered me into a flight mode. 


I just wanted to feel safe and know my escape.


Fear keeps us running circles around our own thoughts and controls our behaviors.


Fear shrinks us but faith strengthens us


To be sure, I have been a Christ Follower most of my life, I have faith and knew God was always with me...I just didn’t know how to have safe courage. Bravery, boldness, courage, strength (physical and emotional) and leadership seemed like it was something everyone else had. I simply didn't know how to overcome my fears and feel strong within my soul.



But God...The Lord is not going to sit back and watch His children remain shackled by fear. He will help you climb out the pit of darkness. He will take off those chains and sometimes it hurts, most of the times we will feel forgotten or exposed. This is pruning, pruning off the old to invite the new growth in.


We’ve been created for a purpose and equipped to accomplish it through Him and His strength, despite our weaknesses and insecurities because He is able, because He is Lord and He created each of us with a purpose in mind. His Grace is more than enough and we can walk in it boldly, confidently and powerfully. 


We must remember there is NOTHING,
 seen or unseen, 
more powerful than the Blood of Jesus!

What I learned to do:
I began to focus on growing physically healthier. Especially once I became a Mom, I wanted to feel confident in my ability to be that Mama Bear they needed -. at the same time -  learning to release the fear to faith by trusting the direction of the Holy Spirit's leading and God's protection over me. It took time, but worship vs fretting became a practiced skill that created better habits, habits that created more freedom and more freedom in the ability to relax in confidence regarding physical fear because I claimed my strength and faith in Christ alone. It took time, one day at a time to create trusting thoughts and recalling every day that fears were not the reality experienced. I was no longer a slave to fear!

Whatever you face as a physical fear, maybe it's harm, illness, addiction...there is a necessary surrender you must practice as you release that fear, the control, the unknown to the One Who knows and sees all things. This is found in your relationship with God, understanding His power, and your power within because of Him. 

Do bad things still happen to praying people? Of course! We are more than conquerors in Jesus Name and our mustard seed of faith can move mountains and a simple rock in a slingshot can take down a Goliath!

In the next blog, we will discuss Emotional Fear. In all healing, there is a necessary healing that happens and with any fear, we must look at it body/mind/spirit...by believing faith! 

We could talk books worth on this, but I will close with this reminder: 
"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, 
for He who is in you is greater than 
he who is in the world." 
1 John 4:4 ESV

If today's encouragement hugged your HEART today, let me know in the comments or meet me over
 in my Facebook Sisterhood Community! Feel free to share this blog with a friend who needs a heart hug too!
This is how YOU get to hug my HEART back!

Heart Hugs and Blessings,
Michele
I am so glad (and honored) you are here! I have been blogging since 2009 as a way to journal out my thoughts as I pray God would use these story shares as practical heart encouragements for YOU TOO! We all need to recall and share those Living Stone moments.
Feel free to look around and make yourself at home! 

If you're looking for Journals & Books, check these out over on HeartsFromGod.com too!!

If you are looking for an Online Sister Community 
?Are you an Introvert Rising?!? If you are looking for a Community of HEART Centered, Jesus Lovin' Sisters ready to rise up over their insecurities and seek after the Heart of God?!?  Meet us here! 

I share encouragement over on the Facebooks on my personal profile as well as the Encouragement Page Livin’ Where Faith Is on too.

I have two free resources for you: 
1.) If you'd like some help sharing YOUR story or testimony, here's a link to grab the fill in the blank PDF I created to help you get started sharing YOUR heart with others! There's a video that goes with it over in the But God Sister Squad Community on Facebook.

2.) www.CreatingSpaceforGrace.com is PDF I share the things I have done (and do) the help guard my peace on the daily!!! I get asked about this all the time, this is my practical resource guide!

Heart Hugs and Blessings,

Michele"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV


Pssst...by Law, I have to share there are affiliate links in here where I earn money from your purchase when you make a purchase! it's affiliate marketing and I love not having to sell stuff! And you know me, I am not gonna sell anything, but I will share everything! I love it! 

A Little About My Heart

 
Born and raised in the church, a Christ Follower, Kingdom Encourager, Wife, Mama, and an Overcomer! GLORY TO GOD!!

I lived most of my life fearful, anxious, and insecure.. I found myself always hiding but serving, striving for perfection in my less-thanness, as a way to earn my worth to self, God and others, sacrificing in the name of serving, hospitality and humility...putting others needs before my own from a place of hiding in my lack, and trying to earn value rather than serving in the space of grace, confident faith and overflowing love. 

Never attaining, only to lead a life of more insecurity, overwhelm, anxiety, and panic, screaming to break free from this bondage, to be that actual strong, courageous Christian Woman everyone else seemed to be, but me. 

BUT GOD.

In 2009, Where Faith Is was born as a blog, learning my voice behind the safety of a keyboard, building courage to speak my truth behind the screen...and here all these years later, Little by little, God is expanding my heart boundaries as He reveals more of His to me. I am so excited to share so freely! 

I especially love being an encourager to other encouragers in the faith who know they are called to encourage yet they themselves struggle with their value and ability. Isn't that how the enemy works? He tries to disqualify us in the same area we are called to shine! What an irony!  

I believe if more people let go of fear and insecurity, surrendered to grace and BELIEVED their value, their spark for life will return to a roaring fire that lights up wet wood! 

When women choose to walk courageous and strong in body, mind and spirit...they step out of the boat and walk on water as Peter did, part the waters like Moses and set more people FREE in His name through their Divine purpose to the Glory of GOD! We are each a Light House of Strength on the shorelines of Grace . 

Friend, you may not believe it, but you are meant for more than eat/sleep/work/repeat. You are also equipped with good works to serve and bless the Kingdom Body, and the world with His Love, through YOU! You've got to surrender your fear and let Him lead you.

You are more able than you think you are and most likely, the thing you feel is the weakest part of you is the strongest thing about you!

If you are an introvert too and want to be a part of our newly launching online community, we are here for you!! Let's Connect! It's an honor to encourage the Encouragers.

I am H.I.S. (Heart In Surrender & Service).

Hugs & Blessings, 
Michele

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:1-4

Contact

Copyrights © 2025 held by respective copyright holders, including Michele Dickerson.