Scripture is quick to always remind Christians that they have nothing to fear as children of God. Not hunger, others, storms, the devil, or even the thing most people in the world fear death. Knowing this though can at times cause someone to feel like a bad Christian when they are afraid. But it is important that we understand that even though we have nothing to fear it is okay to be afraid sometimes. Especially as a new Christian or when facing a situation, unlike anything we have ever faced before.
In the scripture, we read of many great leaders in the faith who seemed to live without any fear. But we also read of many others who did mighty works for God but also found themselves afraid at times on their walk with God. Take the apostles the very men God used to establish the church. They had absolutely no reason to fear the storm because the savior was in the ship, but that still didn’t keep them from being afraid as waves pounded the deck.
Matthew 8:24–26 (ESV)
24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Fear is what caused Peter to sink after walking out onto the water towards Jesus. It is also the reason he denied Jesus three times. Because he was afraid of what they might do to him if they knew he followed Jesus. Fear was the driving force behind those scattered by the persecution in Jerusalem. They were afraid of what the Jews would do to them if they didn’t leave.
Matthew 14:28–30 (ESV)
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
Luke 22:60–61 (ESV)
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Acts 8:1 (ESV)
8 And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Just as we have nothing to fear today the same was true for those listed above. They served the same God we serve and had no reason to fear but at times they still did. God did not cast them away or decided He could no longer use them because they exercised fear. In fact, the opposite is true. God used them all to further His kingdom.
All the apostles, excluding Judas, went on the do great things in service to God. Especially Peter who preached the first sermon on the day of Pentecost and delivered the plan of salvation. He first brought the gospel to the gentiles, penned two books of the Bible, died a martyr’s death, and so much more all for the glory of God. Even the believers who were scattered in fear are recorded as spreading the Gospel everywhere.
Acts 2:14–16 (ESV)
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:4 (ESV)
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
The only way fear will be overcome is through coming to fully trust in the Lord. But trust is not built overnight. It takes time to be fully formed and it requires that you go through some tough situations relying on God.
It is like someone who lives in a hurricane-proof house built to withstand the strongest storms. They have been assured by the engineers, architects, and builders that they can trust their home to protect them. Yet you can guarantee that they were still afraid when the first major storm was about to blow in. Because they had not come to trust the home yet. Only once they have overcome a few storms will they be able to calmly ride out any storm as if the winds were not even blowing.
The same is true for us. It is hard to trust what you have not experienced. But over time we will begin to trust the Lord more and more as He protects us time and time again. Eventually getting to a point of no fear because we know that our God will always keep us safe. A truth we see in the life of Peter who lived with Jesus for three years but still showed fear at times. But would eventually become the man who looked the Pharisees in the eyes and refused to give in to their demands.
Acts 4:17–20 (ESV)
17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 5:27–29 (ESV)
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Being afraid doesn’t make you a bad Christian or even less of a Christian. Truly it shows you where you are on your walk with God. Those who fear still need to mature and grow in their ability to trust God and His word. More important than if you are afraid or not, is how you respond to fear.
Look at the examples we gave above and see how they responded when afraid. The apostles in the boat ran to Jesus right away to rescue them. Peter immediately cried out to Jesus to save Him when he began to sink. Our response to the fears we face should be the very same.
As God’s people, we should not be found shaking in our boots whenever we are afraid. Instead, we should be found clinging to the Lord. That means turning to His word and calling out to Him in prayer. The word is our source of hope and is able to show us we have no reason to fear because we serve a mighty God. Prayer is our direct line to the Lord and we know He hears us when we pray. The Bible even says for us to cast all our cares on Him and that includes our fears.
2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
1 John 5:14 (ESV)
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)
7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
When you find yourself fearful don’t worry that your faith is too weak or God can’t use you. Thoughts like that only come from the devil as an attempt to pull you away from God. Overcoming fear is a process and the more you rely on God the quicker your fears will melt away. One day you will be able to face life’s storms without fear because you have come to fully trust in God. Only He is the reason anyone can truly live without fear or worry. Place your trust in Him and He will never let you down.
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