Karen Robuck shares her testimony of how she went from fear to faith. Though her battles still happen, she shares how she overcomes fear.
Matthew 8:26a (ESV) And He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Snakes. Mice (especially dead ones). Alligators. Dinosaurs. Failure. Disappointing others. Eternity. All things I have been afraid of throughout my life. As a result, I became the good girl, the good student, the employee who tried too hard, the overwhelmed mother.
There have been times when I’ve gotten out of my comfort zone and done things despite my fears—going on mission trips when I was terrified of sharing my faith; moving away first for graduate school, then my first job; navigating the dating scene as a Christian single; getting married; parenting an infant during my new husband’s deployment; homeschooling a special needs child.
How It Began
Then about fifteen years ago the fear became overwhelming. I’ve always been a nervous driver. Even some of the main roads in the northeast Mississippi hills have no shoulders and long drops. One of those roads led to church. I had done some city driving, so driving the familiar roads should not have been a problem. But one dark night changed everything. With headlights behind me and headlights facing me, I began having a panic attack. Unfortunately, this was not a one-time incident. Every time after that, if I drove on a road with curves and no shoulders, I would have another attack. I began to use alternate routes, which usually made the trips longer. My prayers during this time were along the lines of, “Lord, get me through this.”
How It Ended
After I had done this for several years, my son got his learners’ permit and began making the twenty-mile drive to church with me in the front passenger seat. I quickly realized that I could not project my fears onto him. My prayer changed. In desperation, I cried out, “Lord, I’m tired of being afraid.” That was it. God heard me and answered my prayer. The next time I was in the car with my son I was no longer afraid. I soon realized that God answered my prayer in other ways as well. The next time I saw a snake or a mouse I didn’t scream. I didn’t mind the alligators I saw on a vacation in Florida. When I thought about heavenly things, I knew a peace that I had never known before.
What About Now?
Fear has not completely left me; I still struggle with people-pleasing behavior. I still don’t like snakes, alligators, or mice, and I probably will never like dinosaurs. I won’t be going bungee jumping, zip lining, hang gliding, or skydiving anytime soon. But if I ever have grandchildren that I take to the zoo, I won’t avoid the reptile house. And I’m learning, ever so slowly, to put faith over fear. The road of fear was long and treacherous and took many years to navigate. The road away from fear will be much shorter, as I have more years behind me than in front of me. It may still be treacherous at times, but it will be paved with faith more than with fear.
Meet Karen:
Karen Robuck has worn many hats–librarian, teacher, homeschool mom, and wife. Even with all those hats, she has found time to be published in various children’s, writers’, and homeschool magazines, blogs, and websites. She joined Compel Pro in 2024 and has enjoyed delving into writing devotional and inspirational pieces. She lives in Northeast Mississippi with her husband, two young adult children, and eight cats.
Connect with Karen:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.robuck.2025
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nerak1116/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-robuck-a05957308/
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Hope in the Healing: A 40-Day Journey Through Chronic Illness
Hope in the Healing: A 40-Day Devotional Journey Through Chronic Illness
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