Fear Into Faith: An Exclusive Interview with Summer Dey--Perfectionist Turned Global Influencer for Jesus | 006
What if the thing keeping you from stepping into God’s calling isn’t a lack of ability — but the belief that you need to feel ready first?
Perfectionism often tells us that we need more clarity, more confidence, and a better plan before we can move forward. We analyze every possibility, wait for all the pieces to fall into place, and sometimes remain stuck long after God has asked us to take the first step. But what if faith doesn’t always feel confident? What if courage simply means giving God our yes while our hands are still shaking?
In this conversation, global faith influencer, author, speaker, and ministry leader Summer Dey shares how losing everything she had built became the beginning of a life she never could have planned for herself. From one uncomfortable Facebook Live to an international Bible-reading movement, bestselling journals, television programs, conferences, and ministry opportunities around the world, Summer’s story reveals what can happen when we stop waiting to feel qualified and begin obeying God one step at a time.
Summer doesn’t pretend that fear or perfectionism simply disappeared. Instead, she offers a deeply practical invitation: surrender your need to have everything figured out, stop waiting until you feel ready, and learn to give God your yes a little quicker. This episode will encourage you to believe that God can work through your imperfect obedience — and that He is already ahead of you in whatever He is asking you to do.
Is This Episode for You?
This episode is for you if...
You sense God asking you to take a step, but you keep waiting until you feel completely ready.
You become trapped in overthinking, procrastination, or “paralysis by analysis.”
You believe you need more confidence, training, clarity, or preparation before God can use you.
You are afraid of making a mistake, being rejected, or looking foolish in front of others.
You have confused humility with hiding your gifts, calling, or testimony.
You want to trust God but struggle to release control of the details and outcomes.
You need encouragement that fear does not automatically mean you are moving in the wrong direction.
What You’ll Learn
Why courageous obedience does not require the absence of fear.
How perfectionism can turn preparation into procrastination and keep you from responding to God.
Why God often reveals an assignment one step at a time instead of giving us the entire plan.
How small acts of obedience can prepare us for greater opportunities and responsibility.
Why surrender is a daily decision rather than a one-time emotional experience.
How false humility can prevent us from acknowledging the gifts and calling God has placed within us.
Why you do not have to wait for confidence, comfort, or perfect circumstances before taking action.
How imperfect obedience can deepen your trust in God’s faithfulness over time.
Scriptures Mentioned
Psalm 91 — The passage Summer read and prayed during 108 consecutive Facebook Live broadcasts.
Galatians 1:6–9 — Turning from grace toward performance is described as embracing “another gospel.”
Galatians 3:3 — Beginning by the Spirit but attempting to become perfected through human effort.
1 John 4:18 — Perfect love casts out fear because fear involves punishment and torment.
Joshua 1:9 — God’s command to be strong and courageous rather than controlled by fear.
Hebrews 11:6 — Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Zechariah 4:10 — God does not despise small beginnings. This was referred to as possibly being in Zephaniah during the conversation.
Matthew 17:20 — Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.
James 4:2 — “You do not have because you do not ask.”
2 Kings 5:1–14 — Naaman washing seven times in the Jordan River and being healed.
John 3:30 — “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Isaiah 6:8 — “Here am I. Send me.”
John 14:15 — Loving Jesus expressed through obedience.
Ephesians 3:20 — God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.
Revelation 12:11 — Overcoming through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
Matthew 10:27–28 — Bringing into the light what God has spoken in secret and refusing to live under the fear of man.
1 Corinthians 14:3 — Prophetic words should strengthen, encourage, and comfort others.
Proverbs 27:2 — Let another person praise you rather than praising yourself.
Psalm 37:4 — God gives us the desires of our hearts as we delight ourselves in Him.
2 Timothy 1:12 — Being persuaded that God is able to keep what has been committed to Him.
Deuteronomy 28:13 — God’s people being called to be the head and not the tail.
Mark 5:25–34 — The woman with the issue of blood touching Jesus’ garment and being healed.
John 11:1–44 — Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
Resources Mentioned
Fear Into Faith Bible Challenge — A community reading through the entire Bible from cover to cover.
Redeemed 50 discount code — *Please note: this coupon was limited to the 2025 conference and is now expired.
A Year of Miracles by Summer Dey
Fear Into Faith television programs, app, and YouTube content
Continue Your Journey
If this episode resonated with you, continue with these conversations about releasing perfectionistic pressure, responding to God with courage, and allowing grace to shape the way you move forward:
Love Is Kind: Breaking Free from Self-Criticism and Perfectionism | Episode 007
This conversation continues the discussion Leneé originally planned for the week of Summer’s interview. It explores the self-sabotaging effects of harsh self-criticism and what it means to respond to yourself with the kindness described in Scripture.
A Call to Boldness: Your Place in the Body of Christ | Episode 008
Continue exploring what it means to stop hiding, recognize the part God has given you to play, and step forward with courage — not because you feel completely qualified, but because you trust the One who called you.
You can also take the Grace Scale Quiz to identify where perfectionistic pressure, fear, and performance may still be shaping your relationship with God. For ongoing encouragement, join The Redeemed Perfectionist Facebook community, where Christian women are learning together how to move from striving into grace.