People who feel afraid and ashamed tend to want to hide. However, God calls them back to life. Those who heed this call experience care, peace, and a new sense of dignity.

Fear and shame are among the most persistent experiences of the human condition. Scripture repeatedly commands, “Do not be afraid,” precisely because fear so easily shapes the way we understand ourselves, others, and God. From the earliest chapters of the Bible to the ministry of Jesus and the life of the early disciples, we see how fear and shame drive people into hiding. Yet alongside this reality runs a consistent message of hope: God calls people out of hiding, restores them, and invites them to believe that He is still at work within them.

When fear clouds our thinking, poor decisions can suddenly seem reasonable. District Apostle Joseph Opemba Ekhuya from Kenya in East Africa illustrates why trust is a far better guide than panic.

Our motto for 2026 is: “Don’t be afraid. Just believe!” There are many reasons why we should not allow ourselves to become fearful. Fear shifts our focus from what God has said to what we are afraid of, and it can turn a hopeful future into a missed opportunity. Fear has a powerful effect on the human mind. It can distort our thinking, cloud our judgment, and lead us to make decisions we would not normally make. The Old Testament gives a clear example of this in the story of King Saul in 1 Samuel 13.