“What If Fear Didn’t Get the Last Word?”
The more divided we become, the more I hear friends and others speak of their anxiety. Some have begun therapy because of the uncertainty and fear they are experiencing. There is no doubt we are living in tumultuous times. But I must ask: What are we afraid of? And how much of your life are you willing to let fear decide?
On either side of this divide are PEOPLE—with opinions, beliefs, traditions, hope, and resolve. Yet fear seems to trump their existence. On either side, we can ask the same question: What do you fear? What are you afraid of? Why are we living in fear?
Do we fear losing personal momentum, possessions, or friendships? Perhaps we fear losing the security and comfort of a familiar and complacent foundation. Do we fear our future and the role we must assume in shaping it? Do we fear being wrong about our beliefs and opinions? Or do we fear the responsibility that comes with freedom?
It seems a line is being drawn, and people are feeling they must choose sides. Us versus them—in a free, united, and democratic society. What possibly could there be to fear? What do we believe is at stake? And what happens to us when fear begins making our choices?
Throughout the Bible, we repeatedly hear "fear not - take courage." Yet too often, we dismiss its principle and wisdom as cultish jargon or antiquated rhetoric. Can we hear the invitation beneath the language? Can we learn to live in, at, and with peace?
Many of us are being asked to wrestle with thoughts and feelings we believed were long gone and put away. And yet, somehow, we find ourselves standing in the midst of “What the hell is going on?” Strength and resolve seem elusive—to some, nonexistent.
Our fears deserve honest attention. Some arise from real threats; others from assumptions we have never examined. Understanding what we fear gives us a place to begin—and a chance to decide how we will respond.
Peace, like hope, is found, accepted, and practiced through understanding. My book, Don’t Be Just Another Brick in the Wall, and its companion experience, Beyond the Wall, offer pathways to understanding our fear, moving through it, and living in, at, and with peace.
We may not control the uncertainty around us, but we can examine what awakens within us. We can question what we believe, take responsibility for our choices, and decide how we will meet one another—even across the lines being drawn.
Closing:
Many of the choices we make are influenced by the beliefs, expectations, experiences, and assumptions that have shaped us over time. What are you afraid of? What is fear asking you to understand? And how much of your life are you willing to let fear decide?
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Learn more about the book, Beyond the Wall, upcoming programs, articles, and other resources at: www.dirrickwilliams.com
Would you consider being part of our BTW Pilot?
We are looking for volunteers to take part in the pilot program for “Beyond the Wall,” the extended application of “Don’t Be Just Another Brick in the Wall.”
Drawing on the book “Don’t Be Just Another Brick in the Wall,” the group will use reading, reflection, and challenging conversation to explore your voice, what matters to you, and how you want to move forward. We’ll select 8–10 participants ready to attend consistently, participate thoughtfully, and share honest feedback to help shape the “Beyond the Wall” experience.
Free materials • 6 weeks • One two-hour meeting each week • Group size is limited
Interested? To be considered, click here. Deadline for consideration is noon, Wednesday, October 14th. A preliminary meeting will take place October 15th @ 4:30 pm PST.
About the Author
Dirrick L. Williams is an author, speaker, minister, and trainer whose work explores personal awareness, relationships, responsibility, identity, and intentional growth. Through his books, speaking, training, and Beyond the Wall body of work, he challenges people to examine what has shaped them and participate more intentionally in who they are becoming.
© 2026 Dirrick L. WilliamsOctober 11, 2026
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