When Fear Silences Faith: Choosing God’s Praise Over People’s Approval

When Fear Tries to Take the Lead

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to choose faith over fear and God’s approval over the approval of people. Recently, one morning, I made the mistake of looking at the news before spending time with Jesus—and my heart felt heavy. The brokenness of the world, and even the division among believers, reminded me how easy it is to let fear and discouragement silence our faith. Feeling heavy, I turned off my phone and began to pray. As I opened my Bible I found myself in John 12:37–46, a passage titled “Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews.”

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. — John 12:37–46 (NIV)

Wow.

It says many Jewish people believed, even those among the leaders believed, but because of the fear that they had they would not openly acknowledge their faith.

Why? Because they loved human praise more than the praise from God.

The Fear That Silences Us

After reading the news that one morning, I felt fear rise in me.

As a Jewish believer in Jesus, I was reminded of the growing hatred in America—not just toward believers in Jesus, but towards Jewish people.

And a question that continues to be on my heart since the beginning of 2025 is this:

Will I remain silent out of fear? Will I change myself or the things i believe, in order to be more accepted by others?

It’s tempting to stay quiet when silence feels safer. But if we hide our faith or compromise truth out of fear, we’re no different than those in John 12 who refused to speak up.

Questions to Reflect On

• Is there an area in your life where you aren’t boldly proclaiming Jesus?

• Are you staying silent on certain topics out of fear of man?

• Are you afraid of judgment, rejection, or being misunderstood?

• Could pride or a desire for approval be standing in the way?

  
  

Maybe there are real consequences for being open about your faith—but even then, this truth remains:

“For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.” — John 12:43

I don’t want to love the opinions and praise of people more than God.

Fear of Man vs. Fear of the Lord

Jesus spoke directly to this in Matthew 10:26–31, 37–39:

“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

Jesus reminds us that we are deeply known and loved by God—and that following Him is worth whatever we might lose in the process, so be bold for Him and fear him above man!

Ask yourself:

• Do you fear man more than you fear the Lord?

• Do you value people’s opinions more than God’s truth?

• Is following Jesus truly worth it to you?

  
  

Dont just read these questions and then move on. Take a minitue or so to close your eyes and answer these weighty questions because they reveal where our hearts truly stand.

Choosing Boldness and Obedience

If you realize that fear or pride has kept you silent, take heart—God’s grace meets you there.

If you believe Jesus is worth it, ask Him to strengthen you to take action. We often know what needs to change. We pray about it, seek peoples advice and even read Scripture on it—yet stop short of actively making the change.

So ask yourself today:

What step of obedience is God calling me to take right now?

Seek the Lord, surrender the fear of man, and trust that you’re not alone in the journey.

May the God of peace prune us, deepen our reverence for Him, and give us boldness to proclaim His truth without fear. Amen.

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Remember you are so loved, valued, and cherished.