Fear Not, My Friend

I heard something a while back that I had not given much thought to until this morning. The man said something like, “Fear does not exist. The only place it can take place is in your mind.”

I was thinking about that on my drive this morning and had this thought: “That may very well be true, but that is also the place where faith lives.”

From a biblical point of view, while fear is a normal human feeling, the Bible encourages us to conquer fear by relying on faith, trust, prayer, and keeping our focus on God's presence and promises.

"Fear not" is one of the most common phrases in the Bible, appearing numerous times in both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, according to one of my online searches, the phrase “fear not” is mentioned 74 times in the King James Version.

The Bible contains many verses and teachings that touch upon the concept of fear and the role it plays in the lives of believers; let’s look at just four of them.

Isaiah 41:10 tells us, "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." ESV

God is with His people, and we should never give in to fear! The Bible encourages us to place our faith and trust in God rather than being consumed by fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 says, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

This verse tells us that fear is not from God, and that we need to rely on His strength and love to overcome fear.

Many Bible passages emphasize the importance of finding peace and trust in God even in the midst of challenging circumstances. One of my favorites is 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."

I think people so often forget an essential part of that prayer. Just two little words that seem to fade into the background when we are in need of Heaven’s help. Those words: “with thanksgiving”.

I love The Message version! “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Worry and fear are not from our Creator God.

The statement, "Fear does not exist outside your mind” in a small way aligns with the teachings of Proverbs 23:7, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he."

This verse highlights the importance of our thoughts and how they can shape our experiences, including fear.

Fear may be a common human emotion, but the Bible tells us, don’t do it!

We can trust God! He is trustworthy! We can and should, take courage, and find peace in the face of fear and adversity.

God’s Holy Word emphasizes the importance of faith, prayer, and bringing into line our thoughts with His principles. If we can do that, it is a guarantee for overcoming fear and, finding comfort and strength in God's presence and promises.

Fear not my friend; fear not!

by Jeanette Stark – Friday, September 29, 2023