Fear is something every one of us understands. It is not limited to a certain age, season, personality, or circumstance. Fear can find a child in the dark, a teenager at school, a young adult facing decisions, a parent worried about their children, or an older saint thinking about health, family, and the future.
Fear can walk into a hospital room. It can sit in a doctor’s office. It can ride in the car on the way to work. It can lie beside you in bed at night. It can show up when the bills are spread across the kitchen table or when the phone rings late at night.
Fear is real. However, all fear is not the same. The Bible speaks of a right fear, a holy fear, and a healthy fear. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
The fear of the Lord is not sinful. It is reverence, awe and a proper understanding of who God is.
There is also a healthy fear that protects us. It keeps a child from running into the road. It makes us careful around fire, electricity, deep water or dangerous places.
But there is another kind of fear. This fear does not protect us; it paralyzes us. It does not warn us; it worries us. It does not make us wise; it makes us weak.
Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Sometimes fear shows up under different names. We call it worry, anxiety, stress, nervousness, dread or being overwhelmed. Sometimes we call it “overthinking.” But many times, when the mask is pulled away, fear is hiding underneath.
Worry is often fear about what might happen. Anxiety is often fear about what we cannot control. Stress is often fear that we cannot handle what is in front of us. Dread is often fear of what we think is coming. The common denominator within worry, anxiety, stress and dread? Fear.
The Bible does not pretend that God’s people never face fear. Abraham feared. Moses feared. David feared. Elijah feared. The disciples feared in the storm. Even Timothy, a young preacher with sincere faith, needed to be reminded that God had not given him the spirit of fear.
The presence of fear does not mean you are not a Christian. It does not mean God has left you. It does not mean you are a failure. But while fear may visit the child of God, it must not be allowed to move in and take charge.
Psalm 56:3 says, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” David did not say, “I will never be afraid.” He said, “What time I am afraid.” There will be moments when fear comes, but fear does not have to rule.
Fear often grows when we forget who God is. It magnifies the problem and minimizes the Lord. It makes the giant look bigger and God look smaller. It makes the storm sound louder and the Saviour seem farther away.
Fear also grows when we focus on what we cannot control. We cannot control every circumstance, every person, every outcome or every tomorrow. But God never asked us to carry what belongs in His hands. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
The answer to unhealthy fear is not pretending there are no problems. The answer is remembering the presence, promises, and power of God.
Paul said God has given us “power, and love, and a sound mind.” Power reminds us that His grace is sufficient. Love reminds us that nothing can separate the child of God from the love of Christ. A sound mind reminds us that fear does not get to control our thoughts; truth must.
So when fear rises, recognize it. Refuse to let it rule. Shift your thinking. Return to the Word. Run to prayer. Remember God’s faithfulness. Rest in His presence.
Fear may be real, but God is greater.
Jimmy Barrett is a resident of Blackshear and pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Waycross.
