How to Choose Faith Even When Growth Feels Uncomfortable or Uncertain
Can I tell you something? Learning how to choose faith is not about the big dramatic moments. It’s in the small, ordinary steps that feel uncomfortable. The kind that nudge you out of your cozy space and into something new. I’ve seen it in my own life and in the beautiful stories our community shares each week.
In our recent podcast episode with Michelle from the Skoolie Swarm community, she talked about what it means to lead with grace, set loving boundaries, and say yes to something uncertain—sometimes just by answering an email. But here's what sticks with me: Every single time we’re faced with a decision, the question is the same. How to choose faith, not fear. That's what changes everything.
Why Is Choosing Faith So Uncomfortable Sometimes?
Let me ask you: How many times have you felt that nervous flutter inside when God nudged you toward something unfamiliar? (Hand to heart, I’ve been there.) It's easier to talk about brave choices than to actually make them. But the moment comes. You stand at the door—do you stay safe, or do you move forward, even if it feels scary?
The truth is, uncomfortable growth is usually a sign that faith is stretching us. Like Michelle’s story of saying yes to gathering a group of bus-loving strangers in a field instead of a store parking lot. That small yes grew into a movement. Could she have stayed where she was? Of course. But she learned how to choose faith and watched community blossom.
Growth Comes in the "Yes" Moments
When you feel that urge to step out—even if your hands are shaky—that’s how to choose faith at work. It rarely feels easy. Most big changes start with a question: "What if I just try?" (Spoiler: almost every good thing in my life started this way.)
How Do You Actually Choose Faith Over Fear?
Let me walk you through what I’ve learned in real, everyday language. Want to know how to choose faith even when your knees are shaking?
- Notice when fear is trying to run the show. Pay attention to your first thoughts when a new opportunity pops up. Is it, "What could go wrong?" or, "What if I’m not ready?" That’s fear talking. Name it.
- Pause and ask God for His perspective. Simple question: "Lord, what are You saying about this?" Sometimes just a short breath gives room for His whisper.
- Speak Scripture out loud. Here’s a favorite: "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment." (2 Timothy 1:7 CSB). This verse isn’t about pretending you’re not afraid—it’s about inviting God into the space where fear lives.
- Let community hold you up. The Swarm grew because people said yes together. I can’t count the times someone else’s faith helped me take a step I was scared to take alone.
- Be okay with being uncomfortable. Sometimes growth means sitting with what’s awkward. Honestly, that’s where the best fruit is found.
What If You Mess Up?
I get this question a lot: "What if I try to choose faith and I get it wrong?" Here's the thing—God isn't keeping score. Every time you make that move, even if it's a little lopsided, faith gets a tiny bit stronger. Practice is how to choose faith becomes a habit.
Building Boundaries That Make Room for Healthy Faith
Boundaries aren't barriers. They're invitations to peace. In the episode, Michelle shared how setting limits actually made space for more people to feel safe and loved. Maybe you’ve felt uncomfortable making boundaries because you think it means shutting people out. I get it. But how to choose faith sometimes means saying yes to what God wants for your wellbeing and your community, even if it means saying no to others.
Healthy boundaries let you show up for others without losing yourself. You do not have to do everything. You do not have to be everything to everyone. Jesus set boundaries. Sometimes He walked away from the crowd and spent time alone with God. That was not weakness. It was wisdom.
Simple Boundary-Setting Steps
- Ask: Where am I running on empty? That’s a signal it’s time for a boundary.
- Communicate with kindness. You can say no and still be gentle and loving.
- Trust that you don’t need everyone’s approval to follow God’s best for you.
- Let people respond how they need to—but don’t change your yes or no based on their reactions.
Choosing Faith in Community Changes Everything
Here’s what I love most about how to choose faith: It’s so much easier—and richer—when you’re not doing it alone. Isn’t it wild how just stepping out with people changes what’s possible?
In our community, when someone steps into the circle, even if their story looks different, we celebrate it. Sometimes faith looks like welcoming the new person at the campfire. Other times, it’s choosing to listen first, even when opinions clash. Growth happens in the connections we build when we’re willing to say, I’ll show up, even when it feels a little awkward.
Practical Ways to Choose Faith Together
- Reach out when you’re struggling. Let someone pray for you or simply sit with you.
- Invite new voices to your table—literally or figuratively.
- Model curiosity instead of judgment. Ask, "Can I hear your story?"
- Keep coming back. Sometimes faith is just staying when it feels easier to leave.
Taking the Next Faithful Step (When You’re Unsure What’s Ahead)
You do not have to know every answer before you move forward. Can I say that again? You do not have to know every answer before you say yes. I remember a time when the plan seemed unclear, but I knew God was saying, "Step out. Say yes." It was messy, and I didn’t have all the details. But faith grew in that gap between what I could see and what I hoped for.
Hebrews 11:1 (CSB) says, "Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen." It does not say faith is the reality of what is already figured out. Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is take one small, trembling step and trust God to meet you in the middle.
How to Choose Faith Every Day
- Start your morning by handing God what worries you most.
- Say a simple prayer: "God, show me how to choose faith today."
- Pay attention for small opportunities to step out—calling a friend, volunteering, joining a group.
- End your day by thanking Him for each moment you chose faith over fear, even if it felt small.
Let’s Practice Choosing Faith Together
Let me close with this: Every time you learn how to choose faith, you say no to fear’s hold on your story. You invite possibility. You make space for God to move. And in our community, every little yes adds up to a life that is fuller, kinder, braver. This is where healing and renewal begin—not in perfection, but in choosing to step forward anyway.
If you want encouragement for your next step, listen to the latest podcast episode of Perspectives Into Practice. I promise you’ll hear real stories from women figuring it out, just like you. Let’s make choosing faith our practice—together.
