Unfortunately, fear is an emotion many of us struggle with, as it is a natural part of the human experience. And overcoming fear isn't always easy, especially on our own.
Victoria in the Original movie "Finding Faith" experiences fear when she gets a call from her father about her mother being sick. She feels fear again when her father is admitted to the hospital. Her fear leads her to lose faith in God, feeling unsure that He is near to her during this time of distress.
It's said that the Bible says "do not fear" 365 times – one for each day of the year. That all depends on which Bible translation you read. But we do know, that God knows it is human nature to fear the unknown and He has given us plenty of Bible verses for overcoming fear to help us on the journey.
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But what does God's word tell us about fear and worry and what are some Bible verses about overcoming fear? Bible verses about fear have plenty to say — and these are words we desperately need right now:
Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
The Bible tells us that "God is our refuge and strength." When we face troubles — no matter what they are — we can turn to the Lord to find peace and solace. The language in Psalm 46:1-3 is a beautiful reminder of God's love for us and His willingness to protect us through His love and care.
In "Finding Faith," Victoria is able to remember that God is her refuge and strength when her fear arises during her parent's health scares. She remembers that with God, she still has hope even in times of fear.
Philippeans 4:6 (NIV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Fear and worry can go hand-in-hand, particularly when situations are out of our control. As we look at uncertain events here in America — and we grapple with difficult and challenging subjects — we are reminded to take our anxiousness to the Lord through prayer.
We can thankfully and honestly go to the Lord with whatever we're fearing and grappling with right now. This is one of the Bible verses about fear that reminds us of this reality.
You might be wondering what a good prayer for fear is? Here is a model prayer to help you overcome fear and anxiety:
Lord, I am afraid right now and I am overwhelmed by the unknown. Thank You for all the blessings in my life, even the ones that don't feel like blessings right now. I come to You and lay these fears at Your feet and I ask that You bring me supernatural peace as I struggle through my circumstance. In Jesus' name, amen.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7 doesn't only deal with timidity and fear, but it calls us to self-discipline. During a time when emotions are high, it's worth praying on this verse and thinking over how it can impact our thoughts and actions. We can fully honor God when we combine power, love and self-discipline.
Victoria and her husband, Billy, in "Finding Faith" are growing further apart. After many times trying to reconnect, Victoria is scared that the same pattern of behavior will happen again and again. When she finds her renewed faith in God, He empowers her to open her heart again to Billy, trusting in God that this time, things will work out.
Psalm 103:17 (NIV)
"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children."
People often misunderstand when we talk about the "fear" of God. But fear of the Lord is a reverence or respect — a position that impacts how we treat God and others, and how we live our lives.
When we respect the Lord, we seek His guidance and His standards. And in this climate (and any climate for that matter), Jesus' call to "love God" and "love others" must be heeded. Psalm 103:17 is one of the Bible verses about fear that gives us a great deal to consider.
John 16:33 (NIV)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus makes it clear that we will face troubles in this world, but He also proclaims that, in Him, we can find peace. When we remember that Jesus has overcome the world, we are able to grapple with the issues we face in culture and society (and in our lives more generally), knowing that He can and will sustain us, and that we can take our weariness to Him.
Victoria faces many challenges all at once: her marriage crumbling, losing her mother, her father being sick, and feeling pressure at work. She isn't sure where to turn and can't feel the peace inside her soul. Her struggles remind us that God never said we wouldn't suffer in this world, but He said He would be there to go through them with us and not to lose hope because He has overcome the world. It's only when Victoria remembers God's authority and power that she is able to find her peace again.
1 John 4:18 (NIV)
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
Love holds such a powerful sway in and over our lives — and that's something we see in 1 John 4:18 when we're told that "perfect love drives out fear." As we navigate difficult times and challenging situations, let's consider how we can use love to overcome fear.
As we mentioned before, Victoria is fearful that opening her heart up again to loving her estranged husband will only result in more heartbreak. It's not always easy to open up our hearts to loving and accepting love, for fear of being rejected. With God, we can be confident that He loves us regardless - and the right person for us will love us in the same way.
Luke 12:25-26 (NIV)
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
And, finally, no matter how much chaos and consternation surrounds us, this Bible verse about fear reminds us not to worry. In the end, fear and worry add nothing beneficial to our lives. While these emotions might strike us, we have a source we can turn to in an effort to overcome them: God.
It's not always easy to tell ourselves not to worry - it's a natural part of the human experience. But if we challenge ourselves not to get bogged down in that worry. A simple prayer to say when you're overwhelmed with worry and fear of the future is, "Jesus, I trust in you."
That concludes our list of scriptures on overcoming fear in uncertain times. And don't forget to watch "Finding Faith," an inspirational story about perseverance and keeping your faith in hard times, streaming only on Great American Pure Flix.
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