Living the Dream

Living the Dream - Week 2

Fear is a universal experience. Sometimes it’s subtle; other times, it takes over completely. And while the world is overflowing with quick fixes and self-help strategies to manage anxiety, God offers a radically different path.

The story of Gideon in Judges shows us that God’s way isn’t about becoming stronger, smarter, or more strategic—it’s about trusting that he is with us. When Israel was being brutalized and robbed during harvest season by the Midianites, Gideon was just trying to survive. But in the middle of his fear and hiding, the angel of the Lord appeared and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12). Then came the call: “Save Israel out of Midian’s hand” (Judges 6:14).

Gideon didn’t feel like a warrior. He felt small, overwhelmed, and unqualified. But God didn’t start with a pep talk or a plan. He started with a promise: “I will be with you.” That promise became the foundation for everything that followed. Gideon’s journey began with a smaller act of obedience—tearing down the false gods in his own household. Though 32,000 men rallied behind Gideon, God deliberately whittled that number down. First to 10,000, then to just 300, until Gideon’s only remaining assurance was the presence of God himself.

Then Gideon overheard a Midianite soldier describing a dream that confirmed his coming victory. With nothing but clay jars, trumpets, and torches, he and his army of 300 courageously stepped forward—not because he was fearless, but because he trusted what God had told him: “I am with you.” The victory didn’t come through strength. It came through faith.

So what are you facing today? What keeps you up at night? The answer isn’t to get tougher or try harder. It’s to name your fears, hand them to God, and live in a radically different way—one rooted not in fear, but in his presence. Faith doesn’t mean the fear disappears. It means fear no longer dictates the outcome. God is with you, and that changes everything.