Overcoming Fear

One night I was having trouble sleeping because I kept thinking about fear. I got up to sit at my desk and words just kept flowing onto the paper. My hand was moving so fast because there were so many things to write down. God helped me through my fear and I want to help others overcome their own fear. I hope this message provides courage and comfort to those dealing with fear and worry.

We all have fears. Some people fear snakes or spiders, others fear clowns, some fear heights, and many people fear illnesses. There are thousands of fears that exist in this world. Many fears are rooted in the overall fear of death. People fear spiders and snakes because they can kill people, the fear of heights is rooted in the fact that a long fall can kill you, and what makes illnesses so scary is that they can also lead to death. Death is a very common fear that many people have, even if they don’t realize they have it. People not only fear death for themselves. People fear losing their children, parents, grandparents, friends, siblings, and other loved ones probably even more than they fear dying themselves.

Trust God’s Plan

We can’t let fear and worry take over our lives. We have to trust that God will take care of us and that He has a plan for our lives. I believe that God already has our lives planned out for us. That thought provides me so much comfort when I feel fear creeping into my thoughts. When we live our lives with fear, we are fighting God’s plan for our lives. It is so important that we trust that God is in control and live our lives without worry and fear consuming our every thought and action.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.” God cares about you! Don’t let worry consume you, God is in control. When we let our lives be ruled by fear, we send a message to God that we don’t trust Him to take care of us. Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” God promises to help us get through life. We need to trust in Him because He will make us stronger and give us courage to defeat our fears. The Lord will comfort us when we feel afraid.

Fear of Death

Many people fear death. Death can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. We are all going to die eventually. We have no idea when it will happen, but God knows. I am not afraid to die because I know that when I die, it is God’s plan for my life. I am not going to fight God’s plan that He made when He created me. I’m not saying that I want to die, I just don’t want my life to be filled with the fear of dying. I often feel that fear is controlling my life and I don’t want it to. My life is so much better when it is free from fear and worry. I have confidence that when we die, we will be in Heaven where there are no more fears or tears. It is something to look forward to, not something to fear.

God Gives Us Courage

I think that fear is something that comes from the devil and we can fight that fear with courage from God. Joshua 1:9 says, “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” We receive comfort from the fact that God is always with us. He tells us this many times throughout the Bible. Whenever we feel fear or worry creeping into our lives, we need to remember that God is in control and He is always watching over us. That thought can give us courage when we are afraid. Courage means so much to me because I know that when I am afraid, my courage comes from the Lord. God can help me get over my fears and stop constantly worrying.

Free From Fear

Lives lived without fear and constant worry usually end up being much happier lives than lives that are ruled by fear and worry. I don’t think fear ever leads to happiness. Fear only leads to more fear and stress that keeps building up and causing a burden. I would rather live a short fearless life filled with adventure than a very long life filled with fear that prevented me from dying. Even if you lack fear and because of that you die being adventurous, you will die doing something that made you happy. You will also still be happy after you die because you will be in Heaven with Jesus. If you live a fearless life rooted in courage that the Lord provides, you will live a much better life than someone who is constantly filled with fear and worry. 

I would say the most important thing to defeat fear and worry is to trust in the Lord our God. He is in control and He is watching out for us. “Do not fear for I am with you; do not be afraid for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)