by Emily Carson
Fear is a very common theme in the Bible. In the Word of God, we are presented with all kinds of folks: the brilliant, the clueless, the average and everybody in between. There are people who live in constant fear without a chance of overcoming it.
There are people who persevere despite terrifying circumstances. One of the things I love most about the Bible is that many of the emotions it explores are timeless. Being afraid is nothing new to the human experience, and the Bible makes that clear. The Bible also shows us that in the middle of our fears, we are never alone. God is with us. There is such power in this promise from our Creator! I find it fascinating to learn about the various ways God‘s word tackles the topic of fear, and I hope you will, too.
Angelic Encounters: The Gospel of Luke
Whenever angels visit humans, their first words are almost always the same. They say, “Do not be afraid.” (Well said, angels, well said!) As humans, fear is a common first response to an unfamiliar or uncomfortable situation. Throughout the Bible, angels first calm the anxieties of their listeners so that the rest of their words can be heard.
The Bible also shows us that in the middle of our fears, we are never alone. God is with us.
Angels show up in the early chapters of Luke several times, and each time the initial message is, “Do not be afraid” (Luke 1:13, Luke 1:30, Luke 2:10). An angel visits Zachariah to tell him about the upcoming birth of his son, John. An angel visits Mary to tell her about the upcoming birth of her son, Jesus. An angel visits some shepherds in a field to tell them a message of good news and great joy.
At the time of these angelic encounters, Zachariah, Mary, and the shepherds were all in the midst of significant life events! It is normal and expected that they would be experiencing some fear. God meets them right where they are and calms their anxieties. God does the same for us. Our Creator meets us right where we are, in the middle of whatever we are facing and says, “Do not be afraid.”
I will not be afraid: The Psalms
The book of Psalms never ceases to inspire and amaze me with its relevance to everyday life. The psalms are full of real people expressing what it feels like to be human! There are happy psalms and angry psalms and peaceful psalms. There are also many psalms written by people and communities doing their best to overcome fear.
Psalm 27 is an expression of perseverance, faith, and longing. The writer pleads for God’s presence and deliverance from danger. The psalmist also encourages himself and his community saying, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
The truth is, we don’t always feel brave. We don’t always feel ready to confront our fears and struggles. In these moments, we can hold on tight to God’s word. We can find verses and stories that remind us that people have been standing up to their fears for a long time. The psalms offer a way to explore both human emotion and the realities of a life of faith.
Fear and perfect love
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the astonishing sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. . . . (1 John 4:7–21)
The love of our Creator is amazing. For thousands of years, God’s love has continued to inspire people, providing hope and courage during challenging times. Fear has no power in the light of Christ’s mercy and grace. As Christianity grew and spread in its early days, church leaders did their best to teach people what God’s love and acceptance meant for their daily lives.
The first epistle of John is a letter written to early Christians. The author of the letter wants his audience to know that God’s love isn’t just something warm and fuzzy; God’s love is transformative. The theme of the chapter is love, but the writer also touches on the topic of fear.
As a pastor, I often say things like, “God loves you” and “God’s love is always with you.” Sometimes I talk about God’s love so much I forget just how life-altering it really is! 1 John 4 really brings me back to the genuine power of God’s love. The author writes, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18a).
Our Creator’s love is greater than anything that causes us to be afraid. We can be comforted by that certainty! I like to imagine God with a great big snowplow driving up to my heart and mind and plowing away all my fears. Our Creator’s love is unimaginably strong, and it has the power to drive out whatever frightens us the most.
The Journey Continues
We’ve explored only a small handful of the many Bible verses that address the topic of fear. I invite you to continue on your own or with a study group. I participate in a monthly women‘s Bible study group at church, and I am inspired at the amazing things that happen when the powers of community and God‘s word are combined! As you continue to expose and confront the things in your life that scare you, I pray the psalmist’s refrain will remain in your heart: “With the LORD on my side I do not fear.” (Psalm 118:6a).
Discussion questions:
1. What are your biggest fears? How have they changed over time?
2. Is it difficult for you to share your fears with others? Why is it meaningful to share in this way?
3. Fear is a common theme in the Bible. Why do you think this might be?
4. For thousands of years, the psalms have given people and communities a way to express their feelings in the midst of fearful times. How might the psalms be a tool in your personal life? Your family life? Your congregational life?
Closing prayer:
God who hears, knows, and understands, thank you for walking with us always regardless of our fears. Give us courage and strength. Remind us of your nearness. Empower us to release the fears that hold us back so that we can delight in the wonder and possibility of each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Emily Carson is a gardener, houseplant collector and big fan of public libraries. She enjoys exploring new hiking trails and coffee shops with her husband, Justin, and their pups, Maeve and Finn. She is a pastor and currently serves as an Assistant to the Bishop & the Director for Evangelical Mission in the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA. Find Emily on Instagram at @emilyannecarson. Her book, “Holy Everything,” is available in print and digital formats. A free discussion guide is available at http://www.holyeverything.com.
This article first appeared in the November 2017 issue of Boldcafe.org.