“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. For perfect love casts out fear” 2 Tim 1:7
Fear is a lot of amazing things and you do not realize so much of it is subconscious until you try to put it into words. As parents we teach children to have a healthy fear of fire, sharp objects, strange people and situations. In a way fear is the catalyst to activate primordial survival instincts the help us thorough life.
As we grow older fear morphs into a multifaceted subject that is highlighted by words like fear of:
Change
Loneliness
Failure
Rejection
Uncertainty
Something bad happening
Being judged
Inadequacy
Getting old
There are many more words we could add to the list and in spite of our much admired modern technology we have become more prone to anxiety and a general uneasiness about the future. The 2020 Wuhan virus, now known as COVID-19 is the latest example of a mass and at times uncontrollable reaction to a seen, unseen or perceived threat.
Hundreds of thousands died from or with the virus, entire sectors of the economy were shutdown, millions lost their livelihoods, millions suffered psychological damage and some even say this was the worst catastrophe to hit the world since WW2.
In John 17:15 Jesus said “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” An this is the promise we are to stand on to find our way forward from the fear that has gripped the world without no hope in sight.
The way to get rid of the darkness is not by trying to shoo it bit by bit but by letting the light in. In a similar way we are to immerse ourselves in the written scriptures to bring about the renewing of our minds.
GEN.15:1b Fear not,…I am thy shield, & thy exceeding great reward.
DEU.31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
DEU.31:8 And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
JOS.1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
PSA.3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
PSA.27:1 The Lord is my light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
PSA.34:4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
PSA.46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
PSA.56:3,4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
PSA.56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
PSA.91:5,6 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
PSA.112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
PSA.118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
PRO.1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
PRO.3:24-26 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
ISA.12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid.
ISA .41:13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
ISA .51:12, 13 I, even I, am He that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
ISA.54:14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
JER.1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
EZE.2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
MAT.6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
MAT.10:30,31 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
MAT.14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
MARK5:36b Be not afraid, only believe.
ROM.8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
PHI.1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of Salvation, and that of God.
COL.1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His Dear Son.
TI.1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
HEB.13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
JN.4:18 there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.