Fear and Ways to Overcome It
Fear is often present in our lives. It is a universal emotion that unites all people. Every person on Earth experiences fear to some extent. Of course, there are rare individuals who seem fearless, but such cases are exceptions. If you’re not one of these rare people, then fear is something you must face throughout your life. Therefore, it is important to understand how to deal with it. As believers, we can turn to the Bible in search of answers.
But before we search for answers, let’s consider the different types of fear.
1. Fear of Natural Disasters
This includes things like earthquakes, storms, hurricanes, and similar events. The Bible mentions such disasters. The most terrifying of them was the flood sent by God upon the earth (Genesis 7–8). God also sent judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19), and the final destruction of the earth by fire is foretold at the end of time. We often forget Who truly controls all of this and holds all authority. We mistakenly attribute to nature a power that belongs to God alone. It is He who governs the natural world. When witnessing natural catastrophes, it’s crucial to remember that our life on this earth is brief and can end at any moment. All our days are under God’s control—He knows each one of them, and no one lives outside of His authority.
2. Fear of Man-Made Disasters
These include war, murder, robbery, violence, and similar social threats. The Bible also speaks about these fears. For example:
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6)
The Lord warns us that such events will continue until Jesus returns and puts an end to the history of sin. Therefore, Christians should not be terrified or surprised by them. Much of this is due to the sinful nature of man. Unsaved humanity cannot act righteously. Since the fall in Eden, our world has been drenched in sin, and human history is filled with death and increasing evil. These realities give rise to many fears because evil harms both ourselves and others. While we may try to avoid wars or make rules to protect ourselves, we can never achieve complete safety. We’ll discuss how to overcome these fears a bit later.
3. Imagined or Internal Fears
Sometimes, we create our own fears. As children, we may be told stories about a grey wolf who steals children away—and we lie awake at night fearing he might come for us. As adults, our fears change: fear of heights, riding a bike, or speaking in public. Sometimes we even fear our own actions. These fears are internal and often irrational.
4. Fear of God
This type of fear is unique to Scripture, and many people struggle to understand why we should fear God. Yet the Bible teaches that the fear of the Lord is good, even the beginning of wisdom:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10)
Having examined these types of fear, it’s time to explore their common root and how to overcome them.
The Root of All Fear
All fear is fundamentally connected to one thing: the fear of death. Why do we fear natural disasters? Because they remind us of how suddenly life can end. Why do we fear war, murder, and violence? Clearly, because they threaten our lives. But what about the fears we invent ourselves? Surprisingly, they too are linked to death.
Consider public speaking. What’s the real fear behind it? It’s the fear of being rejected, laughed at, excluded. In ancient times, being cast out from the community often meant physical death—no protection, no food, no shelter. In modern society, this primal fear remains. Social rejection still causes deep psychological distress. So ultimately, all humans fear death—though each masks it with other fears.
How to Overcome Fear
Let’s examine this through the lens of Scripture. You might be surprised to learn that both Israel and early Christians struggled with the same fears. For example, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt and suffered greatly. They believed there was no deliverance and thought God had forgotten them. But God spoke to them through Moses and declared that salvation was near.
When Moses asked how to prove he spoke for the true God, the Lord gave him signs: turning a staff into a serpent and back again—proof of divine power over the body and nature. Later, God sent terrifying plagues upon Egypt that everyone could witness. The message was clear: God is in control of everything.
So if you fear natural disasters, your fear should be directed toward God, not nature—because only God governs the elements. In Egypt, people worshiped nature, but God demonstrated that there are no other gods besides Him. If you fear the heavens falling, ask yourself: do you place your trust in God, or do you believe the forces of nature act independently? Fear itself is not sinful, but when it leads us away from faith in God, it becomes a spiritual problem.
As for fear of what man can do—this fear reveals humanity’s fallen nature.
Paul writes in Romans 3:9–18 that all have sinned and none are righteous. He describes humanity as corrupt, violent, deceitful, and without the fear of God. This is our reality.
If we try to conquer each fear individually, we may find that one is simply replaced by another. So how can we overcome fear once and for all? The Bible points us in the right direction:
“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:8)
This is a simple yet profound answer: do not fear, because God is with you. Replace fear of circumstances or people with the fear of the Lord. Why does this help?
Because when you understand who your God is, you realize that everything is subject to Him. Every hair on your head is numbered. Nothing happens without His will. As you grow in knowledge of God, fear begins to disappear—because you know who holds all power and gives all protection.
As Christians, we no longer need to fear death. We believe and trust that the Lord has already conquered death through His crucifixion and resurrection, granting us eternal life. Death no longer has power over us.
We don’t need to fight the fear of death or any other fear—what we need is to truly fear God.
Three Reasons to Fear God
1. He created the earth and everything in it.
God made the volcanoes, the seas, the oceans, and all the animals—and He controls them all. If it is His will, a lion cannot harm you. Like Daniel in the fiery furnace, you will not even smell of smoke.
2. He created every human being.
No one chooses to be born. Scripture says God has power over each of us and directs history. He knows all thoughts and decisions. He can turn the worst situation into good. Like Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers—God used it to save many people.
3. He is the author of your salvation.
Only God can give you eternal life or eternal death. All people have sinned and are condemned to death, for sin cannot dwell in God’s presence. But by His great love and mercy, He offers salvation and eternal life with Him.
Fear of death is rooted in the knowledge that we cannot stand before the great Judge. But we need not fear, because Jesus will be the one to justify us. For us, death is not the end—it is a new beginning where we receive sinless, eternal bodies and dwell in the presence of the living God.
Conclusion
Let me share a story to illustrate this. My daughter was playing on the playground. As usual, she was joyfully climbing and running. One father tried to help her climb a slide, but she got scared and ran to me. She knew that when she was afraid, she needed to run to someone stronger—someone who could protect her. In her childlike understanding, protection came from strength.
Likewise, when you are afraid, run to your heavenly Father. He is always ready to protect you. He gives peace to the heart—a peace no one can take away.