Fear is the belief that God is only good some of the time, that His goodness is conditional, and that He probably won’t do anything good for you. Faith, on the other hand, is absolute trust in God’s Word—believing that what God says is always true, regardless of circumstances. Fear whispers, “Maybe that promise is for someone else, but not for me.” But the truth is, faith is what makes you righteous. Scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” In the same way, if you believe in the finished work of the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit, it will be credited to you as righteousness. 

As we reflect on fear and faith, it’s important to recognize that not all fear is the same. There is one kind of fear that is good—the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. You might wonder, “If fear is so bad, what about the fear of the Lord?” The fear of the Lord isn’t about being terrified; it’s about respect, awe, and a deep reverence for God. When my dad—a kind man, pastor, and gentle disciplinarian—was raising us, he kept a small cheese board, repurposed as a discipline tool, on which he wrote, “Ouch. Spanking paddle—warning.”

My friend, my dad hung it on our refrigerator as a gentle reminder for his children, who didn’t always make the best choices. This visual cue encouraged us to pay attention to our father’s guidance. He wrote that warning not as a threat of punishment, but as a tool for discipline, learning, and growth. In the same way, the fear of the Lord isn’t about expecting punishment; it’s about honoring God’s boundaries and wisdom.