What to do with our human fear and anxiety
Even though we're believers, fear occasionally rears its head in our lives. Whether we're tired, weak or stressed, it's just … there.
What kind of fear am I talking about? I'm not referring to the fear of God, but rather intense anxiety about something bad we expect to happen soon or in the future. Maybe for you it's a hard conversation that needs to happen, a diagnosis, an unexpected expense. Or perhaps you have a speech to give, major surgery, or an upcoming high-stress appointment.
There are many verses we can hold onto in times of fear. A passage I came across recently spoke to me loudly:
"But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?"
—Psalms 56:3-4 (NLT)
Here are two things this Scripture helps us do when we're afraid:
1. Delight in his promises. He has promised so much, and he has blessed us with so much already! Why shouldn't we trust he'll do so again?
2. Don't be afraid of what people might do. God is all powerful, eternal and wise. And kind, gracious and loving. No matter what others do or threaten to do, the Lord's plan will prevail.
Most importantly, we can trust him—even when the outcome seems dire, when we feel panic squeezing our chests.
What are some other verses you call on when you're afraid? (Please share them in the comments.)
Praising his promises,
Tom Harper
Founder, BiblicalLeadership.com
LinkedIn profile | My books
 | Tom Harper is publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com and executive chairman of Networld Media Group, a business-to-business publisher and event producer. He has written five books, including Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership (DeepWater Books, 2019) as well as the Christian business fable Through Colored Glasses and its sequel Inner Threat (DeepWater, 2022). Learn More » |
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