Do you find yourself more afraid of other people's opinions than of God? There’s a hunger in us to be seen, praised, and safe — and that hunger can twist into a fear of embarrassment, loss, or rejection. Jesus speaks straight into that ache, naming the small and large things we hide from and calling us out of fear into faithful witness.

In Matthew 10:26–33 and Luke 12:1–12 Jesus warns his followers not to live in secret terror of human opposition. He tells them not to be afraid of those who can kill the body, because God knows and cares even for the smallest details of our lives (Matthew adds the image of God numbering our hairs). Both Gospels urge open confession: acknowledge Jesus before others and he will acknowledge you before the Father. Luke includes the promise that the Spirit will give words in moments of persecution; Matthew stresses fear of God over fear of people and the consequence of denying Christ. These teachings appear in Matthew and Luke but are not recorded in Mark or John.

Jesus here reveals the Kingdom’s upside-down courage: the One who faces rejection and death invites us into fearless fidelity. The challenge is plain — to stop living by the currency of human approval and to risk being known as his follower. The grace is just as plain — God sees you, values you, and supplies what you need — even the very words to say when you’re frightened. This is not a call to reckless pride but to sober dependence: fear redirected from people to God who saves the whole person.

Don’t miss the weight: to refuse fear of others is to practice trust in a God who refuses to lose you. That shifts your daily priorities and quiets the anxious calculations about who to please.

Today, name one situation where the fear of others rules you — a conversation, a meeting, a relationship. Pray briefly: “Lord, show me what I’m afraid to lose or to be seen for.” Then speak a small truth about Jesus in that setting — a sentence you can actually say — and watch whether a small step of confession loosens the grip of fear. If words don’t come, ask for the Spirit’s help; he promised to supply them.