Fear is one of the most potent emotions we can feel. It is our number one natural defense against all things
that are harmful to us.
Everybody is afraid of something. I defy any person to come face-to-face with a shark, a coiled and hissing
rattlesnake, or a grizzly bear and not feel fear.
The disciples of Jesus experienced fear:
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the
multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when
evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind
was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples
saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately
Jesus spoke to them saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matt. 14:22–27).
The disciples were afraid of what they didn't perceive fully, and they were afraid of what they thought had
the potential to hurt or destroy them. That is the nature of fear: we fear what we don't know, and we fear what
we think will hurt us.
• Have you ever been afraid of what you didn't know?
• Can you recall a time when you were afraid of something that you believed could cause you injury or harm?
Types of Good Fear
Fear comes in two varieties—good, health-related, safety-related, positive fear, and negative, damaging fear.
We should fear some things.
We should have a healthy fear of the Lord. You may want to think of this type of fear as reverence or
awe. When we encounter the Lord, we come into the presence of the sovereign King of the universe.
Although the Lord certainly has the power to destroy, and we cannot ever fully understand or know the Lord,
the fear that we feel about the judgment of God must be balanced with our awe that God is all-loving and ever merciful
to us, His children. Our fear of God is a healthy fear to have. It is the awe of humble children before an awesome
Father.
Adam and Eve had a fear of God after they sinned in the Garden of Eden, and they hid themselves.
Ever since then, men and women have been responding as Adam and Eve did. When we fear God, we attempt to hide
from Him. We run from God, or we try to convince ourselves that He doesn't exist.
• Have you ever had an experience of attempting to hide from God?
• How did you feel while you were hiding?
The only solution for this fear that results from sin is to face God and to admit that we are afraid, we've
been running, and we have sinned.
Adam and Eve didn't do that. They attempted to justify what they had done—placing the blame on someone else.
We have no mention of Adam and Eve's owning up to their sin or seeking God's forgiveness. As a result, they faced
God's chastisement.
If you are afraid of God today because of a sin that you believe you have committed, come to the Father and
own up to that sin, accept what Jesus did on the cross in providing a sacrifice for your sin, and ask God for forgiveness.
A healthy fear of God brings you to a position of praise and worship, and also of heeding God's commandments.
As you read through the verses below, identify the positive benefits of a healthy fear of the Lord.
What the Word Says
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested (Rev. 15:4).
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction (Prov. 1:7).
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul (Ps. 66:16).
What the Word Says to Me
• Have you ever been afraid of God?
• What new insights do you have into the fear of the Lord?
We should have a healthy fear of sin. Sin has the power to destroy our lives, not only to cause great
damage to us today, but also to affect our eternal destiny. When we fear sin, we fear sin's consequences, which
are deadly.
Many people dismiss lightly the nature of sin. In part, they do this because we all sin, and they have a false
notion that if everybody is doing it, it must be all right. In part, they deny the power of sin because they hope
that God might overlook the sin, and thus, the sin will have no consequences. Both lines of thinking are 100 percent
wrong.
Sin is never overlooked by God, and it never goes unpunished. God's Word defines very clearly the nature of
sin and the nature of righteousness, and it declares very strongly that the consequence for unrepented, unforgiven
sin is ultimately eternal death.
What the Word Says
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23).
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us (Heb. 12:1).
What the Word Says to Me
• In what ways are you being challenged today to fear sin?
We should have a healthy fear of Satan, the enemy of our souls. Jesus said that Satan is a thief who
has the power to steal, kill, and destroy. (See John 10:10.) He is a formidable enemy, stronger than we are but
weaker than Christ Jesus. Only as we live in right standing with the Father (through the redemptive work of Christ),
seek to live out the will of God for our lives, and use the name of Jesus do we have authority to resist the devil
and overcome him.
Too many Christians speak too lightly of the devil. They treat him as if he is a human enemy that can be defeated
handily. The Scriptures give us a much different portrayal of the enemy of our souls. They tell us that Satan is
the father of all lies and deception, the master manipulator, the archenemy of God, the one who continually seeks
to devour us as a roaring lion.
What the Word Says
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that He might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Resist him, steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:8–9).
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:11–12).
What the Word Says to Me
Other Types of Healthy Fear
In addition to a healthy fear of God, sin, and the devil, there are other healthy fears. Every parent attempts
to teach the child a fear of touching a hot stove, running out in the street, and talking to strangers. We seem
to be born with a healthy fear of sudden loud noises and of falling. It is natural to feel a moment of fear when
we hear an unusual sound outside the home or hear the sirens warning of a tornado, flash flood, or hurricane. As
stated earlier, such fears motivate us to act.
What we need to do in the face of such fears is to act in a positive manner. Our fear is healthy if we respond
to a fear of sin by seeking forgiveness for that sin and repenting (making a change in the will not to commit the
sin again). Our fear is healthy if we respond to a fear of a hot stove by not touching a stove. Our fear is healthy
if we respond to a warning siren by seeking shelter.
Unhealthy Fear
When we respond in a negative manner, our fear is unhealthy. Negative responses might include
• being paralyzed by fear, seemingly unable to move, react, or take evasive action.
• being frazzled by fear, moving in too many directions at once (or running in circles).
• being overwhelmed by fear, so that we choose a response of hiding from all of life.
The result of negative responses to fear is that we don't act in a way that can bring us relief from fear or
bring us relief from whatever has caused our fear. In failing to move or act—and in failing to focus on a response—we
place ourselves in continued danger and, therefore, in continued fear.
• Have you ever had an experience of responding negatively to fear?
• What new insights do you have into the nature of healthy fear?
• How do you feel when you have healthy fear? Unhealthy fear?
The Spiritual Impact of Unhealthy Fear
Healthy fear is for our protection, both in the natural and in the spiritual realms. An unhealthy fear, however,
can be devastating. The apostle Paul warned Timothy of unhealthy fear: “I remind you to stir up the gift of God
which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and
of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:6–7).
An unhealthy fear diminishes us spiritually because when we are overwhelmed by fear we tend to
• fail to give a bold witness of Christ Jesus.
• fail to take risks in launching new ministry outreaches.
• fail to respond fully to God's love.
• fail to grow in our faith.
Fear not only destroys; it demoralizes. It robs us of hope. And when we no longer have hope, we give in to despair,
depression, and dejection. We lose an awareness of possibility, dreams, and goals.
• Can you recall an experience in which fear kept you from proclaiming the good news of Christ Jesus?
What the Word Says
I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance
of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are
in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak
the word without fear (Phil. 1:12–14).
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
[Jesus said,] “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his
household!Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will
not be known” (Matt. 10:25–26).
What the Word Says to Me
Basic Fears That We Face
Every person faces certain fears that seem common not only to our present age, but also to all eras:
Poverty. We fear not having enough material substance. We fear losing our jobs or sources of income.
We fear bill collectors, creditors, and the possibility of bankruptcy. We fear financial failure.
Death. We fear the unknown “beyond.”
Ill health. We fear losing our quality of life to illness or injury. We fear becoming incapacitated mentally
or physically. We fear pain and suffering.
Loss of love. We fear the possibility of divorce, estrangement, and the loss of regular contact with
loved ones. We fear parents dying and children leaving home. We fear those who might woo our loved ones away from
us.
Old age. We fear being isolated and lonely. We fear losing our capacity to work and an increasing inability
to do those things we did when we were young.
Criticism. We fear what others will think of us and say about us.
We can choose to respond positively to each fear. For example, we can do many things to keep ourselves healthy
as we age. We can build retirement or savings plans to avert future poverty. We can stay interested in life, continue
to learn new things, and work to strengthen friendships and family ties. We can inform ourselves more fully in
areas where a lack of knowledge contributes to fear.
Or we can respond negatively to our fears. When we do, we nearly always visualize potential negative
consequences, things that might happen, but that are not inevitable.
Some of what we imagine is an illusion. Even so, our bodies tend to react to negative, fearful imaginations
as if what we are imagining is real.
This is especially true in the area of criticism. So many people are fearful of what others might think or say
about them. They dread encounters and circumstances with certain people. As a result, they refuse to go to certain
places or engage in certain activities that might be beneficial for them because they fear being ridiculed or otherwise
criticized. The people they fear have a “hold” on their lives.
What the Word Says
The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe (Prov. 29:25).
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through
death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Heb. 2:14–15).
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So we may boldly say:
“The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:5–6).
What the Word Says to Me
• What do you tend to fear? How do you respond to those fears? What is the result?
• In what ways are you feeling challenged to confront your fears today?
A Spirit of Fear
Negative fears—and an unhealthy response to fear—can result in a spirit of fear. This spirit of timidity keeps
us from taking risks of love. It keeps us from reaching out to others, from revealing our innermost thoughts and
feelings, from developing deep, satisfying relationships.
Fear that is not healed by God becomes a pervasive emotional response to all of life, whether it is meeting
new people, pursuing new opportunities, facing challenges, or standing up against evil. When a spirit of fear takes
hold, people are often unable to help themselves. They need loving friends to intercede in prayer on their behalf.
They nearly always need wise counsel from a godly person.
• In your experience, have you ever known someone who seemed to have a spirit of fear?
Response to the Grip of Fear
Remember Paul's words to Timothy: God gives you a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. (See 2 Tim.
1:7.) Your response to every person or situation that you fear is God's power, God's love, and God's mind.
1. Ask for God's help. When you are struck with fear, your first response should be to ask for God's
help. Avail yourself of the power of God.
At the beginning of this lesson, we read how Jesus walked on the sea to His disciples. Peter heard the Lord
say, “Be of good cheer!” and he said,
“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down
out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid;
and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught
him (Matt. 14:28–31).
When Peter found himself in trouble and fear—sinking in the sea—he had the right response. He asked for God's
help. “Lord, save me!” is your best first response at any time you feel fear.
2. Ask for God's love to fill your heart. Love is a potent antidote for fear. I recall the first time
I preached in my home church. I had a “fear attack”—after all, the people knew me. I felt they expected more from
me than a group of strangers might expect. What helped me? I read the words of the Lord to Joshua in Joshua 1:5–9,
and then I turned my focus on the people of my home church. I was overwhelmed by how much I loved them. The more
I thought about how much I loved them and how they had loved me through the years, the more my fear evaporated.
When I stood in the pulpit, the fear completely drained out of me, and I felt full of God's love, the power of
His anointing, and the desire to preach God's Word.
John had a great deal to say about God's love—both in his gospel and in his letters to the church. We read in
1 John 4:17–18:
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is,
so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Ask your heavenly Father to impart to you more of Christ's love and to take away any torment you feel. Let the
perfect love of Jesus Christ flood your soul. As you do, fear will lose its grip on you.
3. Ask God to give you a sound mind filled with and operating according to God's Word. The basis for
a sound mind is the Word of God. The more you know of God's promises to you, and the more you live according to
His commandments and statutes, the greater your strength to withstand fear.
If you have memorized Isaiah 41:10, you can use it to speak directly to the source of your fear, just as Jesus
quoted Scripture to the devil during His time of temptation in the wilderness. (Refer to Luke 4:1–13.)
What the Word Says
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand (Isa. 41:10).
What the Word Says to Me
What the Word Says
I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an
inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you
may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right
hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,
but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.
For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong
and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (Josh.
1:5–9).
What the Word Says to Me
When you are gripped by fear, turn your gaze upon God, redirect your heart to love, speak to your fear from
the Word of God, and then respond boldly to the situation that caused your fear. The Lord desires today that you
“be strong and of good courage.”
• What new insights do you have into the relationship between fear and emotional health?
• In what ways are you being challenged to deal with fear in your life?
From Becoming Emotionally Whole: Overcome Negative Emotions and
Become Happier and Healthier by Charles Stanley. Copyright 1996 by Charles Stanley.
