When challenged to share our faith, why do we hesitate?

I think fear often sneaks in without us even realizing it. Fear of not knowing enough. Fear of being asked a question we can’t answer. Fear of saying the wrong thing. Fear of looking uninformed next to someone who seems to have studied the Bible for years.

Ironically, this perceived “lack of knowledge” can leave us stuck.

And honestly, I understand that feeling all too well. The more we learn, the more we realize how much there is still to know. Scripture is deep, complex, and full of layers that scholars have spent lifetimes studying. It can make sharing our faith feel intimidating, especially when we compare ourselves to people who seem to know so much more. We assume they are the ones who should be speaking, leading, or sharing their faith. And so we sit back quietly, telling ourselves that maybe someday, when we know more, we’ll “feel ready”.

But the more I ponder this, the more I realize that comparison has no place in our faith walk. The last thing we should be doing as believers, new or old, is measuring our relationship with God against someone else’s. Everyone’s journey looks different. Everyone’s understanding grows at a different pace. And throughout Scripture, God rarely calls the people who feel the most prepared. In fact, He often calls those who feel the least equipped.

Abraham is a perfect example.

When God called him to leave everything familiar and go to a place He would later show him, Abraham didn’t have much information to work with. There was no map. No explanation of how things would unfold. Just a call. And yet, he went.

Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance. And he went, even though he did not know where he was going.”

“He did not know where he was going.” So often, we feel like we need clarity before we move forward. But Abraham moved forward in faith, not knowledge. Consider that our lack of knowledge actually leaves room for God to do His work. When we believe we need to “have it all together”, we actually place ourselves at the center of the story, leaving little room for God to do His thing. But when we step forward with humility, aware that we don’t have it all together or have all of the answers, we create space for God to show up in ways only He can.

I was reminded of this recently as I was thinking back to when we started Good Word Project nearly a decade ago. I remember sitting down to write the very first blog and feeling incredibly unqualified. Who was I to write about Jesus? About faith? What made me qualified? The insecurity was REAL, and I remember wondering if people would read it and think, What does she know about any of this? As a matter of fact, in proactive defense and fear, the first words of my first blog post were, “I am not worthy.” But repeatedly in His word, He reminds us that we are indeed worthy. And anything that tells us otherwise is a lie from the enemy.

Over the years of writing, I’ve learned that this isn’t about me having the perfect words or the deepest understanding. It has become clear that God guides the pen here. He simply needs a willing participant. He works through our words, our conversations, and even our uncertainty. My role is obedience, and His role is everything else. Romans 8:28 reminds us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” That includes the moments when we feel completely out of our comfort zone. The more we remember this, the less pressure we should feel.

Yet still, the fear of not knowing enough can hold me back in a few different ways. One of the biggest is sharing my faith with non-believers. The past several Bible studies I’ve participated in have focused on this topic – how to share our faith with non-believers. And if I’m being honest, it’s something that still makes me nervous. Recently, I found myself in a conversation with a friend who does not share my beliefs. She asked a question about something in the Bible, and immediately I felt that familiar wave of anxiety.

How am I going to defend this?
What if I don’t know the right answer?

My mind instantly went into research mode. I wanted to grab my phone, pull up “Got Questions,” and gather facts to support what I believed. I wanted to make sure everything I said was correct. But then something hit me. I’m called to share my faith. Not my facts and not my proof points, but my faith.

Acts 1:8 says, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.”

A witness shares what they have seen and experienced. Instead of thinking about how to defend every possible angle, I took a deep breath and shared what I believe and why it matters to me. I talked about how God has worked in my life and the hope I have found in Him. And the conversation took a softer and more compassionate turn. It reminded me that sharing our faith doesn’t have to feel like a debate or a defense. It’s often just a conversation. For many people, the only exposure they’ve had to someone “sharing their faith” was a man dressed in a suit demanding repentance from sin through a megaphone on a street corner.

But way more effective, (and even unexpected), is faith is shared much more quietly than that, through relationships, everyday conversations, and moments like I had, when someone asks a sincere question, and we respond honestly. Our role is not to force belief or convince someone with perfect arguments. We are simply planting seeds.

Paul describes this beautifully in 1 Corinthians 3:6 when he writes, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”

Another way the fear of not knowing enough holds us back is in participation. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say, “I’d love to join that Bible study, but I don’t know the Bible well enough.” Or, “I wouldn’t have anything to contribute.”

But some of the most thoughtful, honest reflections about the gospel have come from people who are brand new to their faith. Sometimes they see things long-time believers overlook simply because they are encountering it with fresh eyes.

And that’s also a good reminder that it’s not really about how much we know. It’s about the Holy Spirit at work. Jesus promised in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit would teach us and remind us of what He has said. We are not meant to navigate this journey alone.

Finally, the fear of not knowing enough can keep us from growing. Growth requires humility. It requires admitting that we still have more to learn. And the truth is, there will always be more to learn. God’s wisdom is infinite.

Proverbs 9:9 says, “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.”

For me personally, continuing to learn and grow in my faith has become something deeper than just gaining knowledge. As someone who has wrestled with insecurity for much of my life, I’ve come to see learning as a form of worship while acknowledging that God’s truth is worth pursuing. And maybe the most freeing realization is this: I don’t have to know everything to take the next step. I just have to be willing. Perhaps that’s what true knowledge in our faith journey really looks like:not knowing every answer, and not having every verse memorized or every theological debate figured out, but knowing that God is the One doing the work.

James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).

God never says we must already possess all the knowledge. He simply invites us to ask.

One of the beautiful things about faith is that it grows through experience just as much as study.

I believe the goal isn’t to become someone who has every answer ready. The goal is simply to be willing:

Willing to share our story.
Willing to participate even when we feel inexperienced.
Willing to keep learning, growing, and asking questions along the way.

Because the more I walk this journey, the more I see God using not the ones who know the most, but the ones who trust Him enough to take the next step, even in the unknown.

Please join me in praying for His wisdom:
Lord, thank You for meeting us right where we are. I ask that You give me the courage to readily share what You’ve done in my life, to step into conversations even when I feel unsure, and to trust that You will give me the words when I need them. Please keep growing my faith as I learn, listen, and walk with You each day. I ask all of this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.