But What If I Say the Wrong Thing?! – Part 1

"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You." Psalm 56:3 ESV

As children, our fears often took the shape of things like briars, bumblebees, or even the boogie man. I once heard about a little one who was absolutely terrified of vacuum cleaners! While that might make us smile now, in that child’s world, the fear was very real.

As we grow up, our fears shift, and we exchange childhood fears for adult fears. We no longer flinch at imaginary monsters, but we do wrestle with more grown-up anxieties like job stability, health challenges, speaking in public, or even—yes—sharing our faith. For many of us, talking about our faith feels vulnerable, and one question haunts us in our hearts: "What if I say the wrong thing?!"

We fear that a misstep might push someone to a lifetime of therapy, or worse, push them further from God instead of drawing them closer. But at Next Generation IMPACT, we believe in the beautiful simplicity of the Gospel—so simple that even children can understand it.

Look at 2 Timothy 3:15:"And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

Timothy's faith took root through the faithful influence of his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois. Their steady presence and simple teaching laid a foundation that would last a lifetime, even giving him wisdom about spiritual things.

So, what can we learn from that?

When fear tries to silence you, lean into Psalm 56:3, just like you may have done as a child:

"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You."

Here’s how to keep it simple and Spirit-led:

• Trust God’s Word over your own. It's not about having the perfect script—it's about pointing people to truth. Not presentation but conversation.

• Pick three key verses to ground your conversations. Here are a few powerful ones:

  • John 3:16 – "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son..."

  • Romans 10:13 – "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

  • John 1:12 – "To all who did receive Him...He gave the right to become children of God."

And remember: the results are not your responsibility; they are God's business. He simply asks you to plant the seed. As Luke 8:11b says, “The seed is the Word of God.”

In this ministry, we get it—sharing your faith can feel intimidating. That’s why we’ve created The Gospel Toolkit—a resource designed to help you speak with confidence, clarity, and compassion. Don’t miss Part 2 of But What If I Say the Wrong Thing?! where we'll discuss The Gospel Toolkit and how it can sharpen your spiritual thinking.

You're not alone in this journey—and the Gospel is too powerful to keep quiet.