How to Overcome Fear, Biblically

In his first inaugural address, Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief, that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…” 

Fear itself…FDR was referring to the reactions of fearful people.  The Great Depression caused a great deal of fear and fear drives people to do whatever they deem necessary to feel safe and protected. The coronavirus has struck people with fear. We fear catching the virus, we fear giving it to our loved ones; we fear there will be a lack of healthcare; we fear death; we fear the economical decline; we fear running out of toilet paper…the list goes on and on!

Fear causes a release of adrenaline that allows us to fight or flight. When we’re fearful, we respond by either running away from or fighting the source of trouble. For example, if you’re afraid of spiders, you won’t hesitate to kill one if it dares to crawl in your path. Fighting the fuzzy, little arachnoid is an easy response to fear…he won’t be sleeping in your bed!

But how do you fight or flight a virus or the economy? You can’t so many have resorted to fighting one another…they’ve become hostile and greedy. Others give dirty looks or say something if they hear a cough or sneeze. Some are wearing masks and then there are those who’ve stolen hospital equipment.

How have you reacted? Are you fearful? How has that impacted your recent responses? your reactions? 

I encourage you to trust God, in your fear.  “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:3).

Maybe you figure there is nothing wrong with holding onto fear.  It’s not really hurting anything, and you can’t let it go anyway.  When you hold onto fear, it quickly leads to anxiety, stress, and frustration!  It takes over your heart, mind, and actions. Fear will hold you back from whatever God may be doing in and through you. God may be trying to use you to serve and encourage others through this time. But you’re too fearful to reach out. Pray to God, and ask Him to deliver you from your fear.  “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).  He is faithful, and doesn’t want you living in fear.

Fear can work on us individually, but as we’ve seen recently, it easily multiplies in a group.  Sharing our fear with others may entice them to be afraid. During World War II, fear closed the eyes and ears of many people who witnessed the atrocities that occurred under the Nazi regime.  So many people, with so much fear, and only a few helped. After Pearl Harbor, fear drove the United States government to relocate 120,000 Japanese-American citizens into internment camps. Today, fear drives people to horde food and toilet paper, among other things.

Roosevelt identified fear itself as “nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”   Is fear paralyzing you?  Is it causing you to retreat where you should be advancing?  When military combatants face opposition, they don’t retreat; they are prepared, so they advance!  As believers, we must not live in a state of fear, but be prepared when fearful situations arise.  We prepare by allowing our hearts and minds to be guarded by the peace of God (Phil. 4:7).  We consistently rely on God’s Word and Spirit in all things, so we are ready when things become scary, difficult, or confusing. We shouldn’t become paralyzed with fear; we should be advancing! This is the time to encourage others with the truth of Scripture and to encourage others in peace.

Practical steps to overcome fear:

1. Focus on God. He is steady and unchanging. We take our focus off of our fear by focusing on the One who holds the world together. Consider who He and focus on His attributes: wonderful, Creator, sustainer, loving, kind, Shepherd, etc.
2. Pray Scripture. The Bible has a lot to say about fear and about our circumstances. “For I, Yahweh your God, hold your right hand and say to you, Do not fear, I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13). “The Lord is the One who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8). “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). There is so much peace in God’s truth. As you’re praying over your fear, pray using His Word.
3. Now that we’ve reminded ourselves of God’s plan and promises, we need to trust Him. We often fear when things are out of our control or when they aren’t going according to our plan. Our God is trustworthy. He never leaves us nor forsakes us and He’s never without a plan or purpose. When we recognize and accept that His plan is better than ours we will readily submit to His plan.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment” (2 Timothy 1:7).  Fear is not from God and His Spirit is powerful! When fearful situations arise, I encourage you to advance with the truth of the gospel.  Continue living in the Spirit, and making sound judgments. When fear strikes, don’t make harsh or rash decisions. As Christians, we are called to love. Overcome fear by focusing on the Spirit of God and the truth of His unchanging Word.