Mar 14, 2014
Bible Verses about Fear
Bible Verses about Fear
Last night, and this morning, I’ve been battling fear.
Why?
Because my doctors are recommending a medical procedure that carries some risks. Because I fear future health issues. And because I feel inadequate as I think about an upcoming mission trip to India.
So I thought I’d share some favorite bible verses about fear to strengthen my own faith, and hopefully encourage yours.
Here they are —
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Here Paul commands us not to be anxious, which means don’t be fearful.
That’s encouraging, because it means that no child of God ever has any reason to be afraid.
It also means that when I am afraid (like right now), I don’t need to stay there, because God promises to guard my mind and heart with his peace.
So what do I need to do to experience God’s peace? Two things —
- Bring my requests to God (I’m asking God for no complications from the medical procedure, for physical health, and for grace on the mission trip).
- Do this with thanksgiving for all God has done for me. This will remind me of God’s goodness, and help me trust that however he chooses to answer my requests, it will be loving and good and will bring me more joy in him (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 12:9-10; Psalm 119:71).
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.”
It’s encouraging that God promises to be with me. But for this promise to help me overcome fear, I need to be specific about what that means.
And here God explains that to have God be with me means —
- He will strengthen me. No matter what happens, he will always give me all the strength I need.
- He will help me. He will never leave me alone to face any problem. He will always be there with all the wisdom, finances, love, joy, encouragement — everything I need.
- He will uphold me with his righteous right hand. He will not let me sink. He will hold me up so I am comforted, filled, and satisfied in him.
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Fear can fill your heart so much that it feels like nothing can free you from it.
But God promises that the Holy Spirit can fill you with peace, joy, and abounding hope — which means he can overcome your fear.
But this does not happen automatically. We must believe. That means turning to Jesus just as I am, with my fear and unbelief, and trusting him to welcome me and strengthen my faith (Luke 18:13-14; Mark 9:24).
Then, since faith comes by hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17), I need to pray over God’s promises until I experience the Spirit strengthening my faith. When that happens I will start to feel joy, peace, and hope — in him.
Psalm 56:3-4
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
He asks — What can flesh do to me? Which means — What can other people, or my circumstances do to me?
But how is that comforting? Can’t people or circumstances cause problems — like a doctor messing up a medical procedure, or India’s heat sapping my energy?
Yes, problems can happen. So why not fear? It’s because God is in sovereign control over what doctors do, over the heat, over my energy level — over everything.
That does not mean I’ll avoid all problems. But it means that whatever happens is ultimately ordained by God to bring me even more joy in his glory forever (Romans 8:16-18).
I’m Feeling Stronger
This has been good for my soul.
I’m seeing God more clearly. My faith is stronger.
My fear is almost gone, and I’m feeling peace, and even joy, in God.
Once again, he has been faithful to help me.
Thank you, Father.
Comments? Questions?
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And here are some related posts you might find helpful –
- A Reader Asks: if Bad Things Can Happen, then Why Not Worry?
- How Jesus Frees Us from Fear (4-min video)
- 4:00 AM Worries
- What Does the Bible Say about Insecurity?
(Picture from everystockphoto by hotblack.)
Bless you Steve. I love you.
Thanks, brother. Love you, too! 🙂
Thanks, Steve!
Isn’t it good to know that because we have a loving, sovereign God NOTHING comes my way that He doesn’t intend to use for my good and His glory?
Yes — well said!
Thank you, Steve. I have been battling fear myself lately and this came at just the right time to my email box. God is so good. One thing that I try to keep remembering is that God never fails. He hasn’t failed me in the past so why would he fail me now or in the future?
I have had several people (and read in a book lately) that I am sick due to sin. Yes, I sin but, like Paul, I don’t want to. I have a chronic condition that is painful. I believe that God in His goodness, is asking me to use my weaknesses to minister to others. And, leaving the fear with my Father God is very important.
I will keep you in my prayers, my brother.
Hi Christie,
I agree about sickness and suffering. I am sorry to hear about your chronic pain, but you are spot on in seeing it as an opportunity to minister to others.
May the Lord richly bless you and your ministry.
In Christ,
Steve Fuller
Thank you for all your time and effort for this site….your posts have been very helpful to me. My prayers for you regarding your upcoming procedure and trip to India, that all goes well. God bless you.
Thank you so much, Shirley!
Hi Steve, I can totally identify with fears concerning medical procedures and things like that. I also have grown up from youth learning God’s Word. One thing I have learned is that even familiar verses like the ones you quoted can not enter deeply into my heart with my unbelief staying in place. It’s like God’s Word is blocked from entering in deeply enough so that it changes my thinking, affections, and behavior. For that to happen, I have to confess my unbelief that is making me be afraid, and then ask His forgiveness and cleansing, and then asking Him for his gift of repentance- actual turning away from the unbelief gradually as I say what He says is true to myself over and over every time the fear presents itself, and then I can gradually act on what He says is true. And then it becomes real to me. He is glorified and I have joy and freedom.
Hi Ann,
I love how you describe the process of overcoming unbelief.
And you are so right in what you say about unbelief keeps God’s Word from entering into our hearts.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!
In Christ,
Steve Fuller
Your blog has been a total blessing. I appreciate your transparency – that someone so obviously gifted walks the same earth as I do.
Thanks for your encouraging words, Ray.
Thank you Steve for your testimony and transparency. Love you for what you do.
You are so welcome, Praverb. Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
In Christ,
Steve Fuller
Continuing to pray for you Steve. I am praying for healing, praying for peace, praying for a more intimate experiance of God and praying for you to have confidence and very specific direction in all that comes your way
love you brother
fight on!
1Tim6:12
Great article! Praying for peace and comfort for you and your family. I completely agree that dwelling on what scripture says makes an impact on how we feel and cope. Scripture says to focus on things we know to be true… fears and worries are generally about what could happen or what is unknown. The passages you shared are truth!
When I was in the middle of the darkest time of my life, someone gave me scripture cards to post around the house and it really did help to be surrounded by scripture! I recently added a free download of printable scripture cards to my blog for subscribers. I’ll have to use more of these passages next time I add some! Thanks for the article, God is still God, no matter how dark things seem!
So I woke up This morning with fear i know its fear. an im readng for it to help and give me advice on what i need to do to get rid of this fear. I HATE IT!!!!. I hate this feeling so much that i want it gone forever. SO i WOKE UP WITH FEAR I mean i just fought Jeliousy yesturday and now i wake up with anxienty coming in. Any ways this page is very helpfull but I wish there were more advice on How to overcome fear in a relationship with someone you deeply care about an love. see my fear right now an reading this page helped me open my eyes abit on my fear its because my husband/boyfriend/bestfriend. didnt come home an well I know why. but now as I wake up im thinking will I ever get time with him today? but maybe i shouldnt be worrying about that as much huh? its just we hang during the day while he goes out at night. but I wish i didnt have fear,anxiety, and or Jeliousy. Thanks yOU FOR helping me too
I am glad you found this helpful.
Are you part of a Bible-believing church which has some wise, godly women who could pray with and for you? I think you would find that helpful.
And the main issue with fear is that there is something I am desiring more than Jesus Christ. That’s the main issue, because God promises to ordain every event of my life to bring me more of Christ himself. So if I’m fearful, it’s because I’m not content with Christ, but there’s something I want more.
So the solution is to turn my heart back to Christ, and pray over Scriptures describing who he is, until I once again see and feel him as my all-satisfying treasure.
I hope that’s helpful.
In Christ,
Steve Fuller
I fear still an need advice soo ok I fear that The guy I love (he was my answer to my prayers for years an Ibelieve I was his 2) because me an the person I fell Inlove with talked about it an we bonth pretty much prayed for the same thing. EXCEPT! b4 I met him when i turned 18 everything went down fall i was a drug atttic he actually took me in an helped me now im 3 years sober well was till I went behin his back the point is I want forgiveness by him an Mostly by the lord because Im already willing to forgive myself. But im scared Im going to lose him because we fight everyday because well Im the only girl that has lived with him for 2 years. an he has tooken me to a wedding were he hasnt seen that part of fam in 8yrs and wen I barly moved in I got invited 2 both weddings and Im the Only girl that met that part of fam so im bless an b4 that I went to my fam wedding an I thought of him than a month later he ivited me to 2 of his fam wedding. so should i be scared that Im going to lose him especially wen we fight I wish we were fight free and happyness in our Relationship. u can kinda call it more an (OPEN Relationship). but every thursday lyk now an sumtimes weds he meets up with this girl he knew 2yrs b4 me and I still get invited in the weddings and family stuff (hopfully) an I live with him. What do I do how should I think Advice. (I trust Only the lords word) It will help A lot.