Overcoming Fear
QUESTION: Does the Bible give instruction on overcoming fear?ANSWER:The Bible, the Word of God, has a lot to say about overcoming fear, specifically why we should not fear. Our chief source of strength that enables us to withstand fear will always be the knowledge that God is with us. Throughout the Bible, God commanded individuals to "fear not, or, do not be afraid" by assuring them of His presence and help on their behalf.
Genesis 15:1 says, "After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward'" (Deuteronomy 20:3-4).
God wants us to know and be assured that if, and as long as He is with us, we need not be afraid. The knowledge of His presence is the certainty that He will help us.
One of the main causes of fear is our lack of control over events in our life and guilt over things in the past. When God tells us to "not be afraid" it is a command from Him. He is God and His love for us is very great. He wants us to understand all that He offers to us.
Isaiah 54:4-5 says, "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your Maker is your husband - the LORD Almighty is his name - the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth."
No matter what we have done, God is able to wash it away and to make us whole and new again.
Another weapon against fear is realizing the value that God places upon each one of us. If God loved us so much to redeem us back to Himself with precious blood, the blood of His only Son, Jesus, how great must be the worth that He has ascribed to man.
Matthew 10:29-31 says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
We are the special ones of all that God created since we were made in His own image. We are so important to Him; there is nothing that He would withhold from any one of us for our good and benefit.
Romans 8:35-39 says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
We need not fear any danger from anything natural or supernatural, small or great. It is the love of God that overshadows us and gives us victory in and over all these things.
If we trust in the constant presence and love of God, we can overcome fear and make this proclamation as the shepherd David did hundreds of years ago: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalms 23:4).
