In the Face of Fear
I don’t remember the first moment fear gripped my soul. Perhaps it was as a twelve-year-old girl, contemplating why our father left us. Or maybe it was a year later when a presumptuous boy attempted to hold my hand. But later, as a young woman facing the death threats of an unknown stalker and the struggles of divorce and single parenting, fear secured a stronghold in my life.
I’ve known Fear—the kind of fear that loosens joints and weakens muscles, leaving me in an inconsolable heap on the floor. I’ve known a fear that brought out the protective momma within me, willing to fight to the death for my children. I’ve watched in fear as a loved one succumbed to a life of drug and alcohol addiction, and I’ve crouched in fear during the onslaught of cruel words spoken over me.
I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
-Psalm 57:4
But I’ve also known the deceptively small but pervasive fears that threaten to overtake one’s life: fear of failure, meeting new people, fear of illness and injury and death, losing my child, being alone, fear of confrontation, a spider, and checking my bank account balance.
I lived a life marked by fear, but more importantly, I learned to live courageously within the peaceful arms of my Savior.
Fear, in and of itself, is not a harmful emotion. It is a God-given safety mechanism- an instinctual brain function designed to alert the body to danger and trigger a survival response.
Uncontrolled or prolonged fear, however, can have debilitating physical and emotional consequences, including depression, anxiety disorders, sleep deprivation, eating and digestion issues, increased blood pressure, heart problems, headaches, and a decrease in cognitive functioning. Fear at this level affects not only our ability to engage in life, but in our belief in God as a loving protector and provider.
So what should we do when we are afraid?
The apostle Paul teaches us how to cast aside our fear and anxiety in exchange for God’s peace:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:6–7
1. “Do not be anxious about anything…” The word anxious derives from the Greek word merimnaó, which means to be divided, distracted, or to go to pieces. How often do we “go to pieces” under the stress and weight of fear? How often do we allow anxiety to tear at the fabric of our soul and tempt us to remain stuck in the well-worn rut of fear and worry? Take heart. The enduring and all-encompassing love of God allows us to approach His throne with confidence to cast our burdens on Him.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. -1 Peter 5:7
We are not instructed to lay our anxiety down gently before the Lord. Rather, we are told to cast our anxiety on Him. The Hebrew and Greek wording for “cast” means to throw, fling, or hurl. To cast our burdens on the Lord requires purposeful and powerful movement. We cast our worry on God— our regrets and shame, our what ifs and should haves, our fears and anxiety— because He cares for us.
2. “ . . . in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” After we cast our anxiety on God, we transform our worry into a deeply personal request and submit it to God with a heart of thanks.
3. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God does not promise to answer our prayers exactly as we requested, nor does He guarantee us freedom from hardship. Rather, He gives us a peace that transcends all understanding. In exchange for our anxiety, He offers a peace found in Jesus. Taken from the Greek word eiréné, “peace” means to join or tie together in a whole. In essence, when fear pulls us to pieces (anxiety—merimnaó), Jesus gives us inner-wholeness by mending what was once broken (peace— eiréné).
This unmistakable peace of Jesus serves as a nourishing and healing balm against this hurting world, allowing us to endure and even thrive under hardship. It enables us to weep with hope, suffer with love, and die with joy. Most importantly, His peace enables us to lay aside all that hinders, that we may move forward in strength, courage, and the knowledge that our loving God is very near.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
-Joshua 1:9
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To learn more about God’s protection in the face of fear and danger, read The Unseen Companion- God with the Single Mother, by Michelle Lynn Senters.
Your Story:
What victories have you experienced when it comes to fear and anxiety? What helped you to find your courage? What areas of life do you still need to find courage to move forward?
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