Fear once controlled my life. And when I say controlled, I mean it was a completely debilitating force—dictating every action, every decision, and every relationship. It was torment.

It was darkness.

Only a few people—well, really one other person—truly knew. And honestly, no one can fully understand the suffering you carry on the inside. Fear is a ruthless slave master. It drives you. It intimidates you. It’s a bully inside your head.

For a decade and a half, fear ruled my life—until one day I chose not to follow its orders.

One way fear had its grip on me was through O.C.D.—Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Some people wear it like a badge of honor.

“I’m OCD about that,” they’ll say with a slight smile, brushing off what they know deep down is a problem. Or worse, they claim it to create an excuse.

But let’s not forget—OCD is a DISORDER. It is not to be normalized. Yet, our culture has done just that.

Fear can take many forms. It can cloud decision-making. It can make you miss opportunities or hold onto things you should release. It can keep you from starting or ending relationships. And in the end, fear does the same to all its victims—slowly wearing them down until they become paralyzed, submissive servants to a life far less than God intended.

But here’s the good news: Fear has no power over faith. When faith shows up, fear must bow its knee. Faith and belief give you the authority to walk in your divine purpose. They activate God-sized potential in your life.

And here’s the secret to faith and belief—don’t miss it.

Faith without works is dead. Belief without action has no power.

That truth was the game-changer that began breaking fear’s hold on my life. It started with one simple decision: refusing to obey the lie that fear was whispering—maybe even shouting—in my ear.

I had to say “no” to my thoughts, my feelings, and even my desires in order to obey truth. And that’s the key—obey truth until it sets you free.

“When you know the truth, the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)

If you’ve been in church any length of time, you’ve heard that verse. But have you ever thought about this one?

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit...” (1 Peter 1:22)

This is the key to freedom: Know the truth. Obey the truth. Live the truth. That’s life to the full.

So today, before you quickly give in to that voice in your head or that dread in your heart—stop. Shake yourself. Look for the truth. Ask, “What’s really real?” Then do that… so you can truly live.

Make fear...afraid of you.