Reed's Reads of Wisdom Wednesdays: Overcoming the City of F.E.A.R.: How Juanita Grayson and Women Throughout History Conquer What Seems Impossible

Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.
Mar 19
4 min read

Introduction: Fear — The Greatest Thief of Destiny

Today, on Day 19 of Women’s History Month, we pause to reflect on the unseen battle many women face daily—not against the world, but within themselves. That silent enemy is fear. Not healthy caution, but the spirit of fear—the false evidence that appears real, yet robs women of their power, peace, and purpose.

In S.O.L.A.D.™ Book II, Chapter 8: The City of F.E.A.R., Juanita Grayson (Angeline) faces this very battle. What makes Juanita’s journey resonate so deeply is not just her strength or her power—but the quiet, intimate moments where she must decide: Will I believe what fear says about me—or what God says?

Fear has stolen dreams, silenced voices, and left countless women living far beneath their potential. But like Juanita, many have fought their way back, emerging stronger, wiser, and more powerful than ever.

Today, we walk that journey—with Juanita and every woman who has ever questioned if she was enough.

False Evidence Appearing Real: What is the City of F.E.A.R.?

In S.O.L.A.D., the City of F.E.A.R. is more than a location—it is a trap designed by darkness. Its walls are built with every lie women have ever heard:

You’re too emotional.
You’re too ambitious.
You’re too dark, too light, too loud, too quiet.
You’re not enough… and you never will be.

The city's power isn’t in its weapons or its demons—it’s in the way it turns Juanita against herself.

For women, the real City of F.E.A.R. shows up in our daily lives:

The boardroom where you question if your voice matters.
The relationship where you fear speaking your truth.
The church where you wonder if your prayers reach heaven.

Like Juanita, every woman eventually faces the City of F.E.A.R. And the only way out is through.

Juanita Grayson’s Personal War with Fear

Juanita—brilliant, powerful, chosen—is still vulnerable to the same fears that haunt every woman. Despite her gifts, in Chapter 8, she wrestles with:

✅ Imposter Syndrome:“Without Kevin, who am I?”

✅ Isolation:“No one understands this fight. I’m alone.”

✅ Uncertainty:“What if I fail? What if I’m not strong enough?”

This internal dialogue mirrors what millions of women face every day. Yet what separates Juanita—and what can separate us—is the choice to push forward.

📖 Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV): “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you.”

The Real-World City of F.E.A.R. Women Face

The City of F.E.A.R. exists beyond fiction:

In Careers:

First Black female CEOs faced rooms where no one looked like them.
Women in STEM still fight for respect in male-dominated industries.
Mothers balancing careers are told, “You can’t have it all.”

In Faith:

Women are told to:

Pray silently.
Lead quietly.
Stay in the background.

But faith is loud. Faith is action. Faith says, “Even if I’m afraid, I’ll move anyway.”

In Relationships:

Fear keeps women in toxic cycles:

What if no one loves me again?
What if I’m too broken?

Fear convinces women to settle. But settling is survival—not living.

Historical Queens Who Defied the City of F .E.A.R.

Juanita walks the same road as every woman who changed the world:

Harriet Tubman

Walked into the unknown to free hundreds. “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”

Shirley Chisholm

Ran for president “unbought and unbossed.”

Rosa Parks

Defied fear with one simple word: “No.”

Serena Williams

Faced racism, sexism, and still became the greatest.

Vice President Kamala Harris

Faced double standards and still made history.

They all entered the City of F.E.A.R. and came out victorious.

The Emotional Cost of Fear No One Talks About

Fear is not just a mental battle—it’s physical, emotional, spiritual:

Sleepless nights.
Anxiety attacks.
Missed opportunities.
Shrinking into small spaces when you were born to fill the room.

Women carry this generationally—mothers to daughters—until someone breaks the chain. Juanita did.

📖 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV): “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Juanita’s Turning Point: Faith Over Fear

When Juanita faces the City of F.E.A.R., it’s not superpowers that save her—it’s faith:

Remembering the promises of God.
Trusting the assignment on her life.
Understanding that fear was always afraid of her.

She realizes: “I wasn’t sent to survive the City of F.E.A.R.—I was sent to destroy it.”

That’s the word for every woman today: You were not made to survive. You were made to conquer.

The Modern Juanitas: Real Women, Real Victories

Across the world, women are choosing courage:

Tarana Burke, founder of #MeToo, dared to say, “We are not victims—we are survivors.”
Amanda Gorman stood at the presidential inauguration and declared, “There is always light.”
Everyday mothers, teachers, nurses, entrepreneurs who wake up, despite grief, fear, and obstacles, and say, “Let’s go.”