BIBLE PASSAGES DEALING WITH FEAR
With the onset of Covid we became scared and fearful about being around people just by getting out. Yet, with many that live in constant fear, some other unnamed or unknown fear is just around the next corner. Some may have lost a loved one, and wonder who is next. A negative diagnosis from the doctor may cause all kinds of fear and worry due to fear of death. The unknown future when one goes into surgery causes more angst . . . you get the point.
Soldiers, police officers, firefighters and others have been trained to deal with fear, when the average person would run or try to escape.
Then there is the “normal fear” such as sickness, death, not being able to care for ourselves, or economic disaster that will cause trouble in society and in our lives, losing a job, . . . all negatively affect us. Indeed, if we thought about and worried about these things, we would all go crazy.
Now we ask the most important question — Do we fear (respect, honor, trust and obey) God? Do we love him with all of our souls, mind and strength? Notice Luke 10:25 – 28, “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” To fear God means that we love God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind, and we love our neighbor as we do ourself. Obedience to God, trusting in his promises and loving him helps us to deal with the fear of the unknown.
It is amazing how often God tells his people not to fear. Below is a small list of passages that emphasizes that we should not fear, but trust God. Let me encourage you to read these from your own Bible, and learn that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7). When we trust God, we can face death itself and not fear, because we know the one who has our immortal souls in His power. Notice how God encourages His people to trust Him, and know that He is there to comfort and aid us if we do His will. Look at the context of all these passages and see what is going on in the lives of God’s people, and keep this list beside you or in your Bible when you are fearful and worried. Write them out with pen and paper, and memorize those that are special to you. Watch your faith grow and be able to comfort and aid others who are struggling. YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!
- Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9)
- I will fear no evil (Psalm 23:4)
- Of whom shall I be afraid (Psalm 27:1)
- He delivered me from my fears (Psalm 34:4-8)
- God is our refuge and our strength (Psalm 46:1-3)
- When I’m afraid, I trust in You (Psalm 56:3-4)
- Under his wings, you will find refuge (Psalm 91:4-5)
- They cried out to the Lord in their trouble (Psalm 107:28-30)
- The righteous will never be shaken (Psalm 112:6-8)
- Do not fear; I am with you (Isaiah 41:8-10)
- Worrying won’t add a moment to your life (Matthew 6:26-27)
- Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:33-34)
- You of little faith, why are you afraid? (Matthew 8:23-27)
- Do not be afraid, Zechariah (Luke 1:12-14)
- Do not be afraid, Mary (Luke 1:29-31)
- Do not let your hearts be troubled (John 14:25-27)
- Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39)
- Do not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6-7)
- The Spirit of God does not make us timid (2 Timothy 1:7)
- There is no fear in love (1 John 4:16-18).
Tommy
