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Fear is contagious, damaging, and paralysing — but it doesn’t have to win. Discover how faith, preparation, and God’s Word can replace anxiety with confidence and purpose.

Fear is the currency of the media. Fear sells. Every day we are bombarded with news of disasters, catastrophes and dire predictions about the future. It is sad that our news is not filled with all the good things that are happening – and there are plenty of those too.

Now, with a war raging in the Middle East, suddenly higher oil prices are bound to impact everything. When our personal circumstances change, with higher living costs, job insecurity, hard-earned investments losing their value, health concerns and so forth, it is easy to lapse into fear.

Add to all this the evolution of Artificial Intelligence, and suddenly, we cannot trust what we see and what we read. Is the impending disaster real or fake news?  It’s enough to make anybody fearful!

Such things challenge our sense of security and, particularly in our culture, which emphasises knowledge as a means of control. The more you know, and the more you have, the more you feel in control to manage the outcomes. It is particularly confusing when those you trusted to know and work in your best interests, betray that trust, and you realise they are following their own selfish pathways.

What is Fear?

In English, we generally use fear as a negative emotion which arises from a perception, anticipation or experience of danger, a threat, or something frightening we cannot understand.  It makes us afraid.

Similar to our usual use of the word fear, the Hebrew word Pachad (פחד) often refers to irrational, imagined, or gut-clenching dread. Fear of impending real or perceived danger or threat that will result in harm.

This dread is the kind that comes not only from imminent enemy attack but from exposure of sin. However, the same word is used for the reverent awe of the holiness of God, and the awe-filled wonder of forgiveness and redemption.

While worldly fear can cause anxiety and avoidance, godly fear leads to wisdom, obedience, and love.

There is a good kind of fear that alerts us to danger, but when it evolves into terror, it can paralyse us, causing us to make unwise decisions.

Fear is Damaging to Your Health

Continual exposure to extreme fear causes damage not only to mental health but also to physical health. Heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and nervous breakdowns are often attributed to extreme stress, intensified by fear. Recognising the consequences of prolonged fear and counteracting them is always beneficial.

Given the opportunity, it is wise to run from danger and withdraw from situations that constantly make you fearful.

Scripture repeats the phrases “fear not”, “do not be afraid”, and “do not fear”. This is because we can be confident of the faithfulness, goodness and kindness of Jesus, who showed us the compassion, love, mercy and grace of His Father, and promised never to leave us. We don’t need to be afraid, because He has us in His care.

Fear is Contagious

When you meet someone who is fearful, their fear is easily transferred to you.  When you scroll the news, podcasts, opinion pieces that bombard you with bad news, it is easy to be discouraged and lose perspective.

 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the wellspring of life.
— Proverbs 4:23

We all need to protect our inner life, our thoughts, emotions, and will.  Whatever we watch, listen to, the conversations we engage in, all have an impact on us.

How do we do this? By intentionally feeding our souls with good things and deliberately choosing not to fear, but to trust in God, who is faithful and promises to never leave us or forsake us.

The Example of Nehemiah

Nehemiah was in exile in Babylon. He was a close confidant of the King, even testing the King’s drink to ensure it was not poisoned. One day, the King noticed Nehemiah was sad and asked why. Nehemiah told him his hometown was destroyed by fire, and he sought permission to go and rebuild it. Surprisingly, the King agreed and supported Nehemiah in his quest.

On arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah quickly assessed the situation. He encouraged those living there to dedicate themselves fully to the task of rebuilding. But there was fierce opposition, with plots and tricks to try to stop the work. The people were terrified of their enemies at the gate.

Nehemiah was not deterred and instructed the workers to strap on their swords and keep working. He posted sentries at strategic points with a trumpet to warn of impending danger.

This is a wonderful example of not caving in to fear. When danger is all around, we need to be alert, well prepared – with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, in one hand and all the skills, gifts and talents God has given in the other, so we can achieve all He has purposed for us to do.

Positive Self-Talk is Vital

One critical reason for memorising God’s Word is so we have it embedded in our psyche when we are afraid. When fear comes knocking, send Jesus to answer it. We render fear powerless when we confront it with trust in God.

One damaging habit that feeds fear is to play fear-inducing scenarios and “What if’s” in our head. It is one thing to be prepared for when things go wrong – and yes, have a first-aid kit, an evacuation plan, and a disciplined, pro-active approach to dealing with potential danger, but that is very different from panic and ruminating on terrible possibilities.

We Are Safe in Jesus

Ultimately, our lives are in God’s hands. How precious is God’s Word that enables us to know God’s character and encourages us not to worry or be afraid. No matter what happens in the foreseeable future, we will be well served by memorising these verses:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
— Romans 8:35

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
— Romans 8:38-39

What blessed assurance that is! Don’t let fear steal your joy, your confidence and your God-given purpose. No matter what the future holds, we can be confident that our God has it all under His control.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
— Romans 8:28

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Image courtesy of Adobe.