The Fear Factor

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped…” Psalm 28:7a, NASB

In the garden of Eden, there was nothing to be afraid of. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect paradise where now‐dangerous animals were tame and there were no diseases known to man. Unfortunately, we now live in a world that has fallen to sin (Romans 5:12, 18). When sin entered the world, so did pain, suffering, and danger, and on their heals came anxiety and fear, stealing our peace.

The phrase “do not be afraid” is listed 48 times in the New King James version of the Bible. The word fear is listed over 400 times! God knew that we would need guidance and instruction on this topic and He provided it. Out of His love for us, He commands us not to fear, fret, or be anxious (1 Chron. 22:13b; Ps. 37:7; Philippians 4:6), and through His presence, He provides the means of resisting fear. God’s primary reassurance when His people are facing fear is that He is with us and in control (Isaiah 41:13). He doesn’t say the world is a safe place, or that we won’t experience pain, but rather, His presence is greater than the dangers of the world (1 John 4:4).

The question remains, will we hear and heed His Word? Will we trust in Him?

Faith vs. Fear

“Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” Mark 5:36b, NASB

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7, NIV

My wife and I recently watched a documentary that reported reasons why some states of the US support euthanasia. The top reasons did not have to do with a patient experiencing pain from a life-threatening illness, rather, a fear of experiencing pain at some point in the future. This puts into perspective how much of a stronghold fear can have on a person, even to the point of taking their own life.

God knows we have countless things in this world that we can be afraid of. That’s why He accompanies His commands of “do not be afraid” with promises of protection and provision.

Trusting in Him and His plan for your life is the only way to live confidently in this life (2 Timothy 1:7). Faith is the belief that God will take care of you. Fear is the belief that He won’t. When we choose to accept and embrace our fear, we’re basically telling God, “I don’t trust You.”

One of the great steps of faith taken by a disciple in the Gospels is when Peter leaves the boat to walk on water with Jesus. Peter was doing great on his “faith‐ometer” until he looked at the wind and “he became frightened” and began to sink (Matthew 14:30). After Jesus reached out and caught him, He remarked, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus equated Peter’s fear with a lack of faith.

Our Response

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27, NASB

Fear is a powerful emotion. If not dealt with properly, it can quickly grow until it becomes paralyzing. When this happens, it robs us of peace, cripples our judgment, and puts the enemy in control. Although the feeling of fear may come upon us through no fault of our own, we are accountable for how we respond to it. Every single day Christians must make the decision to either walk by faith or walk in fear. Ann Voskamp says in her book One Thousand Gifts that trust takes effort; it must be intentional and focused. “Sometimes, too often, I don’t want to muster the energy,” she says. “Stress and anxiety seem easier.” She goes on to say one must be trained to walk in certain assurance, keeping our “gaze fixed on God”.¹

The Bible has equipped us with many weapons in the fight against fear. If we are to win the battle, we must employ the tactics of our Commander.

Trust – Chose to remember Who is in control (Proverbs 3:5‐6)
Prayer – Pour out your heart before God (Philippians 4:6‐7; 1 Peter 5:7)
Scripture – Hide God’s Word in your heart to recall in time of need (Jeremiah 15:16; Psalm 37:31; Psalm 119:11)
Holy Spirit – Rest in the comfort He provides (John 14:16 in KJV; Acts 9:31; Psalm 23:4)

Digging Deeper

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10, NASB

Each one of us has different fears in life and different “giants” we have to fight. Here are some areas that you may be struggling with fear in your life. Look down the list and look up any verses that fit with your personal circumstance. You will discover some great promises from our Heavenly Father!

General anxiety – Philippians 4:6‐7, Lamentations 3:22‐23; Joshua 1:9
Lack of confidence/fear of failure – 2 Timothy 1:7; Psalm 27:3; Mark 10:27
Being punished for doing the right thing – Galatians 6:9; 1 Peter 3:14; Psalm 56:1‐4
Hearing bad news – Psalm 112:7‐8 (NIV); Proverbs 3:25‐26
Facing an unexpected crisis – Proverbs 3:25‐26; Psalm 46:1‐5
Facing impossible odds – 2 Chronicles 20:15; Luke 1:37; Mark 4:37‐40
Fear of the future – Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 78:52‐53; Matthew 28:20
Fear of death – Psalm 23:4; Hebrews 2:14‐15
Battling the enemy – Deuteronomy 20:1, 4; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 27:3
Sharing the Gospel – Acts 4:29‐31, Acts 18:9; 2 Timothy 1:8‐12
Facing life‐threatening persecution – Luke 12:4‐5; Luke 21:12‐19; Romans 8:35‐39; Psalm 56:4