From Fear to Faith: Trusting God in the Unknown | Strength for the High Places: A 10-Day Journey Through Habakkuk 3:19 | Day 6

Habakkuk 3:19 in the New King James Version says: “The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

Is there anything in your life right at this moment that you are just a tiny bit fearful about?

Now I know as Christians we love to quote the scriptures: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV). 

And it is important for us to be reminded of the promises of God. His Words encourage us. 

But truth be told, all of us have some things on our minds that concern us, maybe some more than others. 

It could be a medical report you’re waiting on, some bills that leave you feeling overwhelmed, a relationship that’s under strain, or even the weight of responsibilities at home or work that seem bigger than your ability to handle. 

These are the moments when fear tries to creep in quietly, sometimes not as full-blown panic, but as a lingering unease represented by what we call butterflies in the stomach, or perhaps like constantly moaning and complaining to everyone you meet.

Yet it’s in these very spaces of concern that God invites us to shift from fear to faith, trusting Him to carry what we cannot control.

Fear often thrives in the unknown. When we don’t know what tomorrow holds, even if it’s about the future, it is easy to be consumed by anxiety. 

As a recap: Habakkuk was a prophet of Judah who lived around the late 7th century BC, likely during the reign of King Jehoiakim, just before the Babylonian invasion. 

Unlike most prophets, Habakkuk’s book is not mainly messages to the people, but a dialogue between him and God.

He wrestled with two big questions: Why does God allow injustice and violence to continue in Judah? (Habakkuk 1:2–4), and Why would God use a wicked nation like Babylon to punish His people? (Habakkuk 1:12–17).

God answered that judgment would indeed come, but ultimately the righteous would live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4). 

By the end of the book, Habakkuk moved from fear and questioning to trust and worship, ending with his prayer in chapter 3 where he declared: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:19, NIV).

So, Habakkuk lived in a time of uncertainty and judgment, yet his response was one of faith: the Lord was his strength, and he would keep moving forward even when the path ahead was unclear.

Such encouragement for those of us who are honest enough to admit that we are facing a tough time right now.

We are reminded that God consistently calls His people from fear to faith. 

In Joshua 1:9 (NIV), God said to Joshua as he stepped into unknown territory: “Have I not commanded you? 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 did not know all that lay ahead, but God’s presence was his guarantee.

Fear says, “What if?” but faith says, “Even if.” Hallelujah.

David expressed this in Psalm 56:3–4 (NKJV): “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” 

Notice David did not deny fear, he redirected it into trust. That’s a lesson for some of us who think that having faith means never feeling afraid, when in reality, true faith is choosing to trust God in spite of fear.

Similarly, in Isaiah 43:1–2 (NRSV), God reassures His people: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” 

God does not promise the absence of trials but His presence in every unknown.

The apostle Paul also encourages us to let faith replace fear.  We quoted that scripture before 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV).

But it is also reiterated in Romans 8:15 (NKJV): “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’”

Fear does not come from God; faith does. And that faith is grounded in God’s unchanging nature. 

Hebrews 13:6 (ESV) declares: “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” Hallelujah.

When facing the unknown, faith also involves surrendering control. Many times, we push forward on our own, even though we pray. Many times, we make our own backup plans just in case God doesn’t come through, or we lean on our own understanding instead of waiting on His direction. 

But real faith, Family, means loosening our grip, trusting His timing, and allowing Him to lead, even when the path feels uncertain or the outcome is not yet visible.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) reminds us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” 

The unknown may leave us uneasy, but God promises direction when we lean fully on Him.

Think about Peter stepping out of the boat in Matthew 14:29-30 (NIV): “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” 

Fear made Peter sink, but faith in Christ allowed him to walk where no man had walked before. Fear focuses on the storm; faith focuses on the Saviour.

Habakkuk’s declaration is a call to that same faith. The deer does not stumble even when the terrain is uneven. Likewise, God equips us to tread through uncertainty with surefooted confidence. 

Be encouraged somebody. We may not know what the next step looks like, but we can know who holds our steps. Hallelujah.

So today, let the unknown become an opportunity for deeper trust. When fear rises, declare with Habakkuk, “The Lord God is my strength.” 

Know today that fear cannot survive where faith has taken root.

 As Psalm 112:7 (NKJV) says: “He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” 

The message for today is: Faith steadies our hearts in the unknown. Have faith Family.