Trusting God When Fear Rises

Scripture: Exodus 14:1–12

Last night, we continued our study of Exodus 14, exploring what happens when fear rises and our circumstances seem to contradict what we believe about God.

We began by introducing our new GROW Journals and the tree we will complete together throughout the season. As we study God’s Word, the tree will serve as a visual reminder of what we are learning and what we are asking God to develop in us.

🌳 Our GROW tree has begun to take shape! We’ll continue adding leaves as we learn, reflect, and grow together.

As we read Exodus 14:1–12, we observed how quickly the Israelites’ confidence turned to fear when they saw Pharaoh and his army approaching. Although God had brought them out of Egypt, the danger before them caused them to question their situation and look back toward the place from which they had been delivered.

Our conversation led us to consider how difficult it can be to break free from familiar patterns of thinking, even after we have experienced change. We were reminded that we must be careful about judging another person’s faith without honestly examining our own.

We also considered Pharaoh’s assumptions about Israel and the different perspectives represented in the passage. Fear can influence how we interpret our circumstances, what we believe is possible, and how we respond when we do not understand what is happening.

We were reminded that a difficult situation does not automatically mean we have missed God’s direction. Sometimes we can be following Him and still face circumstances we do not understand. In those moments, we have an opportunity to examine our responses and consider where we have placed our trust.

Before closing, everyone was invited to consider which person they most identified with in the passage: Moses, Pharaoh, or Israel. Many identified with Israel, recognizing how familiar fear and uncertainty can feel. This moved our discussion beyond the biblical account and invited us to reflect on our own lives.

What Are We Taking With Us?

Israel had experienced God’s deliverance, yet they were still facing the challenge of trusting Him in a frightening moment.

We can relate to that tension. Remembering what God has done does not mean we will never feel afraid. But fear gives us an opportunity to pause, return to what His Word teaches us, and examine how we are responding.

Reflection question: When fear rises, what do my thoughts, words, and actions reveal about where I have placed my trust?

We will continue exploring Exodus 14 together, taking time to understand the richness of the text rather than rushing through it. Our goal is not simply to cover Scripture, but to understand it, live it, and grow through it.

GROW — Greater Revelation Of God’s Word

The Word is clear. People feel safe. The Spirit can move. Transformation happens.