Fighting Fear with Faith
Fear is a universal human emotion.
When was the last time you turned on your computer and didn’t come across something horrifying? (Perhaps 1997.) With the prevalence of social media, it’s hard to avoid seeing terrifying things happening all over the world every day. Even though a lot of things aren’t explained or are taken out of context, it’s hard to stop yourself from jumping on the fear train (and let’s face it, anger).
Fortunately the Bible provides the perfect antidote to fear. Faith.
Here we will look at some verses I love and biblical figures who beat fear with remarkable faith to remind you that God can conquer all your fears.
Let’s start by defining faith. We all understand the concept, but I like the clarity of breaking it down. Faith requires that there is a knowledge present, that you assent to it, and you rest upon it.
In other words, faith means:
1. You know of God.
2. You believe He exists.
3. You trust Him and His promises.
With this idea of faith as a backdrop, let’s move to what the Bible says about fear and how to beat it. By placing your faith in God, you can beat your fears, relinquish your burdens, and find comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone.
There are three verses that I like to re-read anytime I’m really plagued with fear:
2 Timothy 1:7. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Romans 8:15. “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ “
Proverbs 29:25. The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
The Bible is FILLED with stories of people being afraid. Let’s go through three top-of-mind examples.
1. Moses.
Moses was a fugitive with a speech impediment.
He killed an Egyptian who was fighting a Hebrew so had to go into hiding for fear of retribution.
Then, when God called him, he was terrified. He wasn’t eloquent, so he was afraid of going against Pharoah, especially given his past, and he didn’t know if the Hebrews would listen to him as a leader.
Exodus 3:11-12 says: “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ And God said, ‘I will be with you.’ “
Ultimately Moses had faith, and that covered any fear he had. He knew that if God calls you to do something, He will enable you to do it.
2. Joshua.
Joshua had to lead the Israelites into the land promised to them. The problem is that it was filled with a lot of other people, some of whom were giants compared to them.
Can you imagine trying to do that? I mean, really put yourself in his shoes.
This is why God said to him in Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Fortunately Joshua trusted more in God than he listened to his fears, so he was able to live in the land God promised him.
3. David.
I don’t know where to begin with David! He was a fierce warrior leading a ton of battles, becoming famous after defeating Goliath with a rock.
But in general, there are two HUGE fear periods of his life: one when he was running for his life from Saul, the king, and one when he was running from his son Absalom, who made himself king. Both were actively trying to kill him.
The Psalms are heavily focused on David’s crying out to God as his safety and refuge to protect him and guide him in these periods. David leaned on his faith by turning to God as his refuge.
The most famous example of this is Psalm 23. Another one I lean upon (there are really so many, so it’s hard to choose just a few!) are Psalms 3:5-6:
“I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.”
Now two important points to mention about how to fight fear with faith. You need to remember God’s presence and promises, then cast your anxieties on Him.
God's Presence and Assurance.
One of the Bible's central messages is the assurance of God's presence and protection. (I wrote a separate post about God as your refuge here.)
NUMEROUS verses emphasize that God is with His people, providing comfort, strength, and security. But one of my favorites is Isaiah 41:10:
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Such promises invite believers to trust in God's unwavering presence, banishing fear from their lives.
Casting Our Anxieties on God.
The Bible encourages believers to cast their anxieties and fears upon God, recognizing His care and concern for their well-being.
Another favorite of mine is 1 Peter 5:7:
“Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you."
Personally, I do this easily. The problem I face is leaving my anxieties at God’s doorstep. But why not take advantage of this amazing offer?????
Letting someone else do the worrying for you? Yes please! Especially when it’s the Creator of the Universe with the power to control whatever happens.
Fear may cast its shadow upon our lives, but the God offers a powerful weapon against its destructive force—faith.
Through faith, we can break free from fear's grip and be calmer, more hopeful, and generally more content.
As we embrace the lessons of the Bible and cultivate unwavering trust in God, we discover that faith based on our Creator and Redeemer empowers us to conquer our deepest fears and feel safe amongst the storms of life.
If you want to read more about how I leaned on God during the darkest time of my life and came out stronger and happier as a result, I chronicled it all I Faith in Crisis: From My Father’s Deathbed to My Own.
See, I started 2020 grieving my dad’s death and ended it in the hospital with a physician telling me I wouldn’t walk out alive.
The next 3 months ended up being some of the best of my life as I watched God perform miracle after miracle because I was so broken that I had no choice but to lean totally on Him.
I wrote this as encouragement that God is listening to you in your time of need and is working in the background for your good.
His timing is perfect; ultimately all you have to do is lean on Him and wait.
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