Overcoming Spiritual Barriers
Scriptural strategies for doubt, fear, and temptation — the Rise Crew Action module.
Purpose: Move from insight to obedience. This guide addresses the three barriers named in the Rise Crew Purpose Course Action phase.
How to use: Identify your primary barrier. Work through that section. Revisit monthly.
Barrier 1: Doubt
Symptoms: Questioning God's goodness, scripture, calling, or your place in the faith community.
Root causes (often)
- Unprocessed grief or trauma
- Intellectual questions without safe space to ask
- Disappointment with God after unanswered prayer
- Toxic church experiences
Scripture anchors
- Mark 9:24 — "I believe; help my unbelief."
- Jude 1:22 — "Have mercy on those who doubt."
- Psalm 13 — Lament is legitimate prayer.
- John 20:27 — Jesus invites Thomas to investigate.
Action steps
- Name it to God — Write an honest letter. Don't edit for theology.
- Find one safe person — Someone who won't panic at your questions.
- Separate character from circumstance — God is good even when life isn't clear.
- Take one obedient step — Obedience often precedes clarity, not the reverse.
- Study one apologetics or theology resource — Match it to your actual question (suffering, reliability of scripture, etc.)
7-day doubt reset
| Day | Practice |
|---|---|
| 1 | Write your honest questions |
| 2 | Read Psalm 13 aloud |
| 3 | Tell one person one question |
| 4 | Read one chapter of Mark's Gospel |
| 5 | Serve someone practically (action builds faith) |
| 6 | Worship without asking for anything |
| 7 | Journal: "What shifted, even slightly?" |
Barrier 2: Fear
Symptoms: Avoidance, people-pleasing, paralysis before calling, fear of failure/rejection/manipulation.
Root causes (often)
- Shame messages from family, culture, or church
- Past betrayal or humiliation
- Tall poppy syndrome / crab bucket dynamics
- Spiritual warfare targeting your assignment
Scripture anchors
- 2 Timothy 1:7 — Spirit of power, love, sound mind.
- Isaiah 41:10 — "Do not fear, for I am with you."
- Joshua 1:9 — Courage is commanded, not suggested.
- 1 John 4:18 — Perfect love casts out fear.
Action steps
- Identify the specific fear — Name it. "I'm afraid of ___."
- Trace its origin — When did this fear first attach?
- Declare identity — "I am a child of God. Fear does not get the final vote."
- Take a micro-risk — One conversation, one application, one boundary.
- Pair with community — Fear shrinks in accountable company.
Fear ladder exercise
List 5 actions related to your calling, easiest to hardest:
- _______________ (do this week)
-
-
-
- _______________ (long-term)
Climb one rung at a time. Celebrate each.
Barrier 3: Temptation
Symptoms: Recurring patterns of sin, addiction, compromise, or "small" disobediences that erode integrity.
Note: If you're in active addiction or crisis, seek professional and pastoral help. This guide supplements — it does not replace — recovery communities like Celebrate Recovery.
Root causes (often)
- Unmet emotional needs
- Isolation and secrecy
- Stress without sabbath
- Ungrieved wounds
Scripture anchors
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 — Escape route exists.
- James 5:16 — Confess to one another and be healed.
- Romans 6:6-14 — You are not a slave to sin.
- Galatians 6:1 — Restore gently.
Action steps
- Break secrecy — Tell one trusted person the full truth.
- Remove access — Practical barriers (apps, accounts, environments).
- Install replacement — When temptation hits, what will you do instead? (Call someone, walk, pray, leave the room.)
- Daily accountability — One check-in text: "Clean today" or "Struggled — need prayer."
- Address the wound beneath the behaviour — Temptation is often medicating pain.
If you relapse
- Do not disappear.
- Confess quickly.
- Receive grace.
- Analyse trigger without shame-spiralling.
- Re-engage community same day if possible.
Integration: All Three Together
Doubt, fear, and temptation often cluster:
- Doubt → "God won't help me"
- Fear → "I can't tell anyone"
- Temptation → "This will numb the pain"
Break the cluster at any point and the others weaken.
Closing Commitment
My primary barrier right now: ☐ Doubt ☐ Fear ☐ Temptation
My one action this week: _______________________________________________
My accountability person: _______________ Contact date: _______________
Prayer: Jesus, You were tempted, afraid in Gethsemane, and forsaken on the cross — yet You overcame. I am in You. Lead me through this barrier. I will not hide. Amen.
Rise Crew · Share freely · Pair with Spiritual Stocktake Guide