‘Fear in God’ by Avery Anna & Sam Barber - Lyrics & Meaning

One of our favourite country music duos are back with another stellar collaboration. After delivering the viral hit, ‘Indigo’ (as well as the underrated ‘Restless Mind’) in 2024, Avery Anna and Sam Barber have finally returned with another gem.

The powerhouse pairing had been teasing the brooding, soul-stirring track in the months leading up to its release, with Anna and Barber linking up on-stage to perform it in late 2025.

It finds them reflecting on their respective faith journeys, and given how evocative and enchanting ‘Fear in God’ is, we're hoping they might have a full collab album en route. Anna confirmed to Holler in March 2025 that they've been writing a lot together since ‘Indigo’, with more seemingly on the way after ‘Fear in God’.

‘Fear in God’ opens with an ominous electric guitar reverberating out into the abyss, before Barber's introspective, world-weary vocals enter the fray. Then, we get the introduction of a driving drum pattern, with Anna joining on harmonies.

The intensity builds as they approach dramatic hook, with Barber and Anna's voices combining seamlessly to accentuate the gravitas of the message. Anna takes the helm for the second verse and chorus, giving this the feel of a classic country-rock duet.

The impetus when writing ‘Fear in God’ was for Anna and Barber to express how, when they are struggling with anxiety and trepidation, they find solace in knowing that God and Jesus are always there for them. They lay out the distinction between fear that is based in the world - such as fear about money, health, death and relationships - and fear in God, which is not ‘fear’ in the sense of being scared.

Rather, fear in God is a feeling of deep reverence and awe for God, one that brings comfort and peace in the knowledge that you are in His hands, rather than crippling worldly fear.

The two narrators begin by regaling listeners with their stories of being saved by Jesus, with Barber stepping into the shoes of someone who used to rely on alcohol to deal with his anguish, while Anna sings from the perspective of someone who appears to have been contending with depression and who was “robbed of the light inside”.

As they hit rock bottom in their respective stories, they each hear a voice telling them to get on their knees and pray. When they admit their qualms about being too far gone to be saved, the voice reassures them, “He'll take you as you come now”. They realise that they do not need to make themselves perfect, guiltless and sin-less before they can enter into a relationship with God and Jesus.

Before performing the then-unreleased track in Atlanta in 2025, Anna explained the inspiration behind this vulnerable offering, “Part of my story that I really wanted to tell - and luckily I was able to write this song with Sam and really be able to tell that - is there’s only one person that’s ever walked this earth that knows how you feel and has carried your sorrow with you. And his name is Jesus Christ”.

The Arizona native went on, “I’m fortunate enough to know that to my core, and so there’s something that really helps me throughout my life when I’m really struggling and whenever I’m anxious. And that is, Biblically, when you have fear in the world, it means anxiety and stress and sorrow. But when you have your fear in God, it means reverence and courage and strength. That’s something that me and Sam got to talking about, and we wrote this song…It’s called ‘Fear In God’”.

“I barely made in three steps through the cold door
When I decided I couldn't take it anymore
Then I headed my way out to Santa Fe
Where I learned you can't drink all your pain away

-

Face to face, on the fence
Bow my head, there's a voice that says

-

"Hurry up son, it's getting late
And the devil thrives at the end of the day
He's gonna tempt you
You're gonna shake
Get on your knees when you don't wanna pray
Fear in God will be your saving grace
He'll take you as you come now
He'll take you as you come now”

-

I was shy of sixteen when I thought I'd die
I was broken and robbed of the light inside
So far down a beaten path, I sent up the last prayer I had

-

Face to face, on the fence
Bow my head, there's a voice that says

-

"Hurry up son, it's getting late
The devil thrives at the end of the day
He's gonna tempt you
You're gonna shake
Get on your knees when you don't wanna pray
Fear in God will be your saving grace
He'll take you as you come now
He'll take you as you come now”

-

Oh, he'll take you as you come now
And oh, the fear in God will be in your saving grace
Oh, and fear in God is the only way
Oh, he'll take you as you come now”

For more on Avery Anna, see below:

Avery Anna

Artist

Sam Barber

Artist