Fear comes in many forms.
It can strike suddenly paralyzing us in an instant. Or it can linger like a low, relentless hum in the background of our lives. Sometimes it hides behind anger, pride, or control.
No one on earth is immune to it.
Neither rich nor poor, powerful or vulnerable, educated or uneducated—fear touches us all.
I’ve watched both my daughters struggle with the fear of losing me. Tears in their eyes, voices trembling as they say, “Mummy, please don’t die.”
Their little hearts gripped by a fear that’s far too big for them to carry. And honestly, it’s a fear that grips me too.
Because what do you say when their deepest fear is one you can’t promise away?
As a mother, I long to shield them from pain but I’ve learned since that this is where faith steps in.
Faith in a Heavenly Father who promises to never leave them.
A God who sees them, loves them, and holds their future when I no longer can.
Fear was born in a garden.
When Adam and Eve ate from the tree God told them not to, their eyes were opened and they realized they were naked.
Shame entered. They hid.
And for the first time in human history, fear took root in the human heart.
Fear of exposure. Fear of punishment.
What began as perfect communion was now marked by hiding and fear. And humanity has been wrestling with it ever since.
But God…
But God, in His omniscience, knew. He knew how fear would entangle our hearts. He knew how easily we’d be swayed by “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios.
And in His mercy, He didn’t leave us without help.
The Bible is full of encouragement for the fearful heart. One of the most repeated commands in Scripture is, “Do not be afraid.” Not because fear will never come, but because we’re never meant to face it alone.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.”
(Isaiah 41:10)
“When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
(Psalm 56:3)
“Perfect love casts out fear.”
(1 John 4:18)
God doesn’t shame us for being afraid. He meets us in it. He offers His presence, His promises, and His peace.
Even Jesus…
Even Jesus—fully God, yet fully man knew what it was to face fear.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before His arrest and crucifixion, He fell to the ground and prayed:
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” (Matthew 26:38)
He pleaded with the Father:
“If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)
Jesus felt the weight of what was coming; pain, abandonment, the wrath of sin. He sweat drops of blood, a sign of extreme anguish.
He didn’t deny His fear.
He brought it to the Father.
And in doing so, He showed us the most powerful way to confront our fears: through surrendered trust.
Here are two applicable truths to help us deal with our fear.
1. God’s Presence Is Greater Than Our Fear
Fear magnifies in isolation when we feel like we’re facing the unknown alone. But Scripture reminds us over and over that God is with us, right in the middle of the fear.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
Isaiah 41:10
God never promises a life free from fear but He does promise His presence. And His presence changes everything. We may still feel afraid, but we’re not abandoned. We’re not alone.
2. We Face Fear by Trusting in God’s Character
Fear feeds on uncertainty, but faith rests on the unchanging character of God.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Psalm 56:3
We may not know what the future holds, but we do know who God is; Faithful. Good. Sovereign.
The more we anchor our hearts in His truth through Scripture, prayer, and recounting His faithfulness, the less power fear has over us.
Finally, one night, after a terrible episode of fear losing her grandma, I sat beside my eldest as she cried. I taught her to surrender her fear to God.
It was too heavy for her young heart to carry, so we prayed and gave it to the One who can. She found peace—not because the fear vanished, but because she trusted God with it.
Cypress And Myrtle 