Written by Mark Altrogge | Monday, March 12, 2018

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Here is how we cultivate hope and put fear to flight. The key is to “call to mind” the truth about our God. We must call to mind the fact that God’s steadfast love for us NEVER ceases. We must call to mind that his mercies to us NEVER come to an end. We must call to mind that every single morning God has new mercies for us. And we must call to mind God’s infinitely great faithfulness.

I don’t know a single person who isn’t tempted to fear from time to time.

We can be tempted to fear for our kids and grandkids. I recently said to my wife, “I thought when our kids were grown and out of the house, all our worries would be over. But now they are even bigger! Not only for our kids, but now we have grandchildren to worry about!”

We can be tempted to fear for the future of our nation, especially the more we watch the news. Tempted to fear for our finances. Or our health. And most of us face the temptation to daily anxieties.

Thankfully, there are Bible verses about fear…

…about anxiety…

…about worry.

God knows our fears, and he has given us many, many Bible verses to help us overcome our fears.

What Is Fear?

To fear is to “be afraid of someone or something as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening.” (Dictionary.com)

When we fear, we use our God-given imaginations in a way we weren’t designed to. We imagine the future, and we imagine something really bad happening. It’s the opposite of the positive thinkers who say we should imagine ourselves getting rich every day. That we should put a picture of a brand new car on our fridge, and imagine ourselves driving down the freeway.

When we fear, our minds picture all kinds of scenarios, and then we try to figure out what we will do when they happen. And that can send us spinning.

Not only can our own imaginations lead us down rabbit trails of fear, but Satan himself tempts us to be afraid, for if he can get our focus on the possible bad things we may face, we won’t focus on God. We won’t pray to God, or trust him or enjoy him. And we may try to alleviate our fears in sinful ways.

But God tells us not to fear. And he gives us hundreds of Bible verses about fear. These verses are intended to give us peace in the midst of the hurricanes of life.

But we must fight to believe God’s word and not give in to fear. I’m not saying this is easy. But God’s will is that we experience his deep rest and joy. Here are a few wonderful Scriptures to help fight for God’s peace and joy.

Verse #1: Fear Not (Isaiah 43:1-3)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3)

God tells his children to “Fear not”. Why? Because he has redeemed us and made us his own.

He has called us by name. Therefore when we go through hard things – when we pass through waters, rivers and fire, God himself, our Savior, will be with us, and will keep and protect us.

Yes, we will go through waters and flames – we will go through various afflictions in this life – but they won’t harm us at all.

Verse #2: God Is For Us (Romans 8)

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?…

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?…

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-32, 35, 38-39)

What a boatload of peace-assuring promises. God, the Creator of all things, the all-powerful one is FOR US. But not only that, he gave up his precious SON to purchase us!

If he gave his Son for us, won’t he meet our needs? Won’t he keep us safe? Won’t he give us any lesser thing we need?

Therefore NOTHING – nothing now or in the future will be able to separate us from his love for us in Jesus.

And because he loves us in Christ, he will meet our every need.

Verse #3: Engraved On His Hands (Isaiah 49:15-16)

“Can a woman forget her nursing child,

that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?

Even these may forget,

yet I will not forget you.

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are continually before me. (Isaiah 49:15-16)

What mom would forget her nursing baby? It may rarely happen, but God will NEVER FORGET one of his children. He has engraved us on the palms of his hands.

When Jesus looks upon his glorified hands, and sees the marks of the cross, he sees our names engraved there. He will never forget us!

I know parents who have their children’s names tattooed on their arms. How much more did Jesus engrave our names upon his hands when he died for us on the cross!

Verse #4: The Steadfast Love Of The Lord (Lamentations 3:21-23)

But this I call to mind,

and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21-23)

Here is how we cultivate hope and put fear to flight. The key is to “call to mind” the truth about our God.

We must call to mind the fact that God’s steadfast love for us NEVER ceases. We must call to mind that his mercies to us NEVER come to an end.

We must call to mind that every single morning God has new mercies for us. And we must call to mind God’s infinitely great faithfulness.

I memorized this passage years ago, and I begin most days when I wake up by saying something like, “Thank you Lord, for the gift of sleep. Thank you for your protection during the night. Thank you for your steadfast love that never ceases. Thank you for your mercies that never end. Thank you for your new mercies this morning. Thank you for your faithfulness.”

Write this passage on a notecard. Read it every day. Memorize it. CALL TO MIND these truths about our faithful, merciful God and you will find God’s peace growing in your life.

Verse #5: Wait For The Lord (Psalm 27:13-14)

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living!

Wait for the LORD;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD! PS 27:13-14

Satan tries to get us to believe we will look upon bad things in the future. To combat this we must remember, that even if we can’t see it now, we WILL look upon God’s goodness in this life and certainly the next. When we meditate on these things it helps us to let our hearts take courage rather than fear.

Verse #6: How Abundant His Goodness (Psalm 31:19)

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! (Psalm 31:19)

God has abundant goodness stored up for us!

We should not fear the future, but fear God and take refuge in him, because he has ABUNDANT GOODNESS STORED UP for us. God has bags and bags of grace stored up for us. He has blessings waiting that we can’t even imagine – abundant blessings. Not just a little bit. Memorize these verses too!

Verse #7: Do Not Be Anxious About Anything (Philippians 4:7)

…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Here’s how to combat anxiety for the future: pray and give thank God “in everything” – in everything you are tempted to worry about. Keep lifting your requests to God. Keep thanking him for everything you can think of.

The result: “the peace of God” – God’s very own peace – “which surpasses all understanding” – a peace that human understanding can’t grasp – “will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Pray! Thank God! All day long.

Verse #8: Humble Yourselves (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

God promises to give grace to the humble. When we cast our anxieties on him, he promises to “exalt us” – lift us up – at the proper time.

Why should we cast our anxieties on God? “Because he cares for you” – the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Creator of the galaxies CARES FOR YOU. Incredible!

God is not too busy running the universe to care for us tiny specks of dust – he cares for us because he has redeemed us by the blood of his Son. He cares for us because he has adopted us as his own children. He cares about every detail of our lives. Cast your anxieties on him!

Verse #9: The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4)

If you believe in Jesus Christ, the Lord, the Great Shepherd, then he is YOUR personal shepherd, and you shall want for nothing.

Jesus will make you lie down in green pastures, not deserts. Green pastures are rich and full. Jesus will lead you by still waters – a picture of peace.

He will restore your soul – again, a picture of peace and fullness. He will lead you and guide you in paths of righteousness – in his will, in ways that bring blessing to your life.

And he will do this for his name’s sake – for his glory. He will glorify himself in your life. No matter what you go through you won’t fear any evil because he will be with you. He will protect you. He will comfort you.

There are many more Bible verses about fear. Do some searches. Search for Bible verses on God’s peace, on fear, etc.

Write down your favorites. Memorize them. Believe them. And don’t forget to pray and give thanks always. And Jesus will give you his incredible, deep peace.

Mark Altrogge has been the senior pastor of Saving Grace Church of Indiana, PA for over 25 years, and is the author of many well-known worship songs such as “I Stand In Awe”, and “In The Presence.” This article first appeared on his blog and is used with permission.