God’s Answer to Fear
Have you ever been afraid of the dark? What about when thunder shakes your house? Have you ever been too afraid to jump off a diving board? Does your heart start to race when you have to speak in front of other people? Have you ever watched a TV show or movie that kept you up at night? If you said “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone. We are all afraid of something. Fears can take a real hold of us and can keep us from doing what we need to do.
Some fears are bigger than being afraid of the dark, heights, or spiders. We can be afraid to speak when we need to. We can be afraid to help someone in need. We can be afraid to lead. We can be afraid to trust someone who wants us to do something really big. We can be afraid to face difficult situations. These are the kinds of fears the Bible talks about. That’s right, the Bible clearly teaches us that God is fully aware of our fears. He knows we all struggle with being afraid of things. Even so, one of God’s most frequent commands in all the Bible is: “Do Not Fear!”
He knows that we will be afraid of things and He constantly reminds us not to be afraid. How can this be? Let’s think about the story of Joshua.
In Joshua 1, God told Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. This was no easy task. The book of Joshua opens by telling us that Moses had just died (1:1). At this point in the Bible, Moses was the greatest leader Israel had ever known (Deuteronomy 34:10-12). Moses led Israel out of Egyptian slavery, he parted the Red Sea, and he kept Israel alive in the wilderness for 40 years despite their continual complaining. He was truly a great leader. These were the shoes Joshua had to fill. Can you imagine how Joshua might be afraid that he would be unable to lead Israel as well as Moses? Not only that, but the task in front of Joshua was just as frightening. Joshua was not leading Israel into an empty and uninhabited land of Canaan. The Promised Land was filled with some of the most wicked people, and they were even described as giants (Leviticus 18:24-30; Numbers 13:31-33). Joshua had big shoes to fill and a strong enemy ahead of him.
God knew Joshua would be tempted to be afraid of his task of leading Israel. This is why God told Joshua to be strong and courageous numerous times (Joshua 1:6,7,9,18). God even told him to “not be afraid, nor be dismayed” (Joshua 1:9). God didn’t simply tell Joshua not to be afraid; He told him to be the opposite of afraid. What is the opposite of fear? Courage. We know that when people overcome their fears, we call them brave or courageous.
But how was Joshua to build the courage to overcome his fears? Was he strong enough by himself to overcome the fears? The answer is right next to God’s commands to be courageous and fear not. According to verses 5, 9, and 17, Joshua’s source of courage came from God. God promised to be with Joshua (if he kept God’s commandments) just like He was with Moses. Even the people of Israel knew that Joshua’s source of courage was God’s presence. In the face of fear, God can command us to be courageous by trusting in His presence. The courage is not within us; it is in trusting God’s presence. The things we are afraid of do not disappear, but God gives us the courage to overcome those fears.
This makes sense. When little children are afraid of the dark, they are comforted by the presence of their parents. When babies cry because they are all alone, they are soothed by the warmth of their mother. When someone is afraid to ride a roller coaster, he feels the courage to get on board if a friend rides with him. When a child is afraid to swing across the monkey bars for the first time, she is motivated to start swinging if dad is right there to catch her. We understand that the presence of someone we love and trust can help us overcome our fears. When our trust is in a person’s presence, fears crumble. This is why God continually tells His people that their fears can be overcome when they remember that He is always with them. His command to “fear not” is tied to His reminder that He is near, and we can trust in Him.
Let’s consider an example of overcoming fear from the story of Jesus. After Jesus finished feeding the 5,000 in Matthew 14, He sent His disciples across the sea on a boat. While Jesus prayed on a mountain alone, His disciples were caught in a raging storm on the sea. Jesus came to His disciples walking on the water. Matthew 14:26 says that the disciples were troubled and “cried out for fear” when they saw Jesus walking on the water, for they believed Jesus was a ghost. Immediately Jesus said, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27, NASB). The disciples’ fear was calmed by Jesus’ presence. Again, we learn that the source of fear is not taken away. Instead, Jesus helps His followers overcome fear with His presence.
Everyone struggles with some sort of fear. The Bible has a consistent message about fears: Do not fear! God never promised that His people would not face scary situations. As a matter of fact, God told people quite often to face scary situations head on. God led Moses and Israel right up to the Red Sea. God called for Joshua to lead Israel into the land of Canaan; a place filled with wickedness and strong nations. God told Joseph to take Mary as his wife even though she was pregnant. God even calls for us today to face the frightening reality of persecution as we go into all the world and share the Gospel. Instead of promising us that we would not encounter scary situations, God promised something better. He promised His constant presence. In the face of fear, God tells us to be courageous. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5).
So, the next time you are afraid of something, remember God promised to be with us. His presence gives us the strength to be courageous. Being courageous doesn’t mean we won’t be afraid again; it means we trust God even when we are afraid. When you are afraid to do what is right, pray for God to remind you of His comforting presence. Always remember to trust in God’s presence in the face of fear.
“Fear not for I have redeemed you;I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you pass through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” ~ Isaiah 43:1-3
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