GUEST WRITER HEALEY IKERD
I am standing near the top of a tall mountain, careful not to get too close to the edge. We've all felt that familiar feeling in our chest—fear. It's the emotional response we get when we sense danger, whether it's real or perceived. Anything we believe might harm us physically or emotionally can trigger that fear response.
Fear is a very good thing if the danger is real, like standing on a cliff’s edge, but it can be an unhealthy thing if it is only perceived danger. For example, maybe you have been hurt before, so anyone trying to get close to you is considered unsafe. It is unhealthy if you are fearful that someone will think something negative about you if you don’t look or sound perfect. Fear is not good if you are constantly afraid that you are sick or have cancer. These types of fears can inhibit our lives and erode our trust in God (and these are the types of fears that I am talking about in this article).
Fear can also mean reverential awe, like deep respect and devotion. In a way, that's exactly what we do when we're afraid of something – we give what we are afraid of a place of reverence in our lives. We might bow down to fear. We might respect the fear more than we do God. We might let it guide our decisions instead of God. Maybe we do it so much that fear becomes an idol to us.
God doesn't condemn us for feeling afraid. He created the emotion! In Genesis 2:10, after sinning, Adam felt scared and hid. The sin, then fear, had more sway over him than God did at that moment. We see this pattern throughout the Bible. Fear can cause us to make unwise decisions. If fear is left unchecked, it can have a detrimental effect on our lives.
So, what should we do when fear or anxiety creeps in? Turn to God! By focusing on His character, promises, and presence, we can shift our hearts from fear to trust.
Here are TEN practical tips to help you put fear in its proper place and learn to trust God more.
1. Create a Healthy Fear (Awe) of God
To trust God more fully, we need to consistently prioritize Him in our thoughts, motivations, and behaviors. By centering our lives around God, we acknowledge His authority and power, which deepens our trust in Him. What we revere the most will inevitably shape our actions and decisions.
Jesus says in Matthew 10:28, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Take a moment to think about your fears. Whatever they are, ask yourself: can any of them actually touch your soul? That's the part of you that lasts forever. The answer is no, they can't. Only God can do that.
We are not to fear death, harm, what others think, our future, our past, or anything else. God has conquered death and all the other things that we could possibly be afraid of. We can trust Him, who holds all things in his hand. God has already conquered it all.
2. Recognize Fear and Make Intentional Choices
Feeling fear isn't wrong – it's natural and needed, especially in dangerous situations. Most of the time, though, our fear is present, not as much in dangerous places but merely in uncomfortable, unknown, or vulnerable places. For fear like that, what is important is how we respond to it. Instead of hiding like Adam (Genesis 2), lying like Sarah (Genesis 18), running away like Hagar (Genesis 21), ignoring God's commands like the Israelites (Numbers 13), freezing up like the Israelite army (1 Samuel 17), or denying our Savior like Peter (Matthew 26), we need to make wise, intentional choices.
We can learn from others in the Bible who felt fear but did what God called them to anyway:
• Caleb and Joshua were ready to face enemies because they believed God's promise
• David trusted God and faced the Philistine giant alone
• Gideon burned idols while his people were oppressed by the Midianites
• Nehemiah kept building Jerusalem's walls despite threats of harm
• Esther went in front of the king to plead for her people
• Paul preached the gospel despite his past and threats to his life
Being courageous doesn't mean we're not afraid. It means we choose to act on our faith in God, even when we are scared. That's what real trust looks like – making
intentional choices to follow God's lead, especially when fear is trying to hold us back. It is pleasing to God to display our trust in Him.
3. Read the Entire Bible
It's hard to trust God's promises if we don't know what they are. By reading the whole Bible in context, we can learn about God's character, His promises, find encouragement, and see examples of courageous faith in action. These stories of others who faced fear but made brave choices can inspire us - but only if we know them.
Daily Bible reading equips us to face our own fears with God's wisdom and promises in mind. It can also equip us in other valuable ways, such as giving us perspective and helping us to live a holy life. Reading the whole Bible and reading daily is vital in helping us trust God more. To get started reading the Bible, I have provided some resources on my website: https://writtenbyhealey.com/bible-reading-resources
4. Desensitize your body and brain to unhelpful fears
Confronting irrational or inhibiting fears is often the best approach to overcoming them. Typically, when faced with a fear-inducing situation, our brain and body react instinctively. However, we can train ourselves to respond more calmly through a process of gradual desensitization.
Here's a simple approach:
a. Identify a minor aspect of your fear
b. Expose yourself to a small part of it until you feel calm
c. Gradually increase exposure over time
This method helps recalibrate your body and brain's response, teaching them not to overreact to non-threatening situations. It's a gradual process that requires patience and consistent practice.
By addressing fears in small, manageable steps, you can progressively build confidence and resilience. Over time this approach can significantly reduce the impact of irrational fears in your daily life.
For more detailed guidance using this technique, refer to the "Becoming Courageous" section in my book, Changing Your Feelings.
5. Think Healthy Thoughts
Cultivate thoughts that are True, Helpful, Encouraging, and Positive (THEP). Thoughts that meet the THEP criteria are healthy! If a thought isn't true, why entertain it? If it is true but not helpful, why continue to think about it? If we wouldn’t say it to a friend, why say it to ourselves?
While negative thoughts may arise automatically, it's crucial to assess them. Replace unhealthy/negative thoughts with healthy ones as soon as you recognize them. Don't condemn yourself for having negative thoughts; simply be aware of them and make changes as needed.
God’s promises meet the THEP criteria. Choose a few to have ready when an unhealthy thought pops into your mind. This helps you be more mentally healthy and builds your trust in God.
6. Speak the Truth Out Loud
Once you've identified healthy thoughts, speak those thoughts out loud as a way to encourage yourself. There's power in the spoken word. As Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." We use the tongue to speak. We know the power of words. We know and feel encouraged if someone speaks a kind word to us. We can also see and feel the effects of a discouraging, harsh word. When we verbalize healthy statements or scriptures, it can boost our courage, confidence, and our trust in God.
7. Pray Scripture
God's promises are true, encouraging, and helpful to our souls. Praying His words are powerful and effective and ultimately helps us trust Him more. Here is a simple example of a prayer using different scripture:
“Lord, I know you have given me a sound mind of power, love, and self-discipline. Help me to access those right now through Your gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me in all my ways to acknowledge you! Grant me the ability to lean on your perfect love so all that my fear will be cast out.”
A great book to help you pray scripture is called Prayers That Avail Much by Germaine Copeland.
8. Remember God's Promises and Presence
Many of God's "Do not fear…" commands come with reassurances of His promises, His character, or His presence. Examples include Genesis 26:24, Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:9, 2 Chronicles 20:17, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 41:13, Jeremiah 1:8, Nehemiah 4:14, and John 14:27.
We need to always remind ourselves of God’s promises whenever we are anxious or afraid. We can remember all the times he has been with us before and remind ourselves that he is with us now. We can meditate on who God is and reassure ourselves that he loves us and is trustworthy. Because of these things, we can trust Him!
9. Get to Know God Better
We are more likely to trust God when we know Him well. That means we must spend time with Him. Some ways to get to know God better might include reading scripture, praying, meditating on scripture, sitting quietly and praying intermittingly, asking Him questions, and looking/listening for His answers. This helps us to know Him better.
When God does speak to you, obey what He says. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” Obedience is crucial in our relationship with God. It is easier to obey when we trust Him and easier to trust Him when we obey and experience the way he works in us through that obedience.
10. Recall God’s Past Faithfulness
Has there been a time you weren’t sure how things would turn out, and that made you afraid? Did God work it out somehow or later bring something good from it?
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” —Psalm 77:11-12
We have to be very intentional in thinking back to the times when God was faithful in our lives. We can easily forget answered prayers, miracles, or God’s hands in situations. If you can’t recall anything, read some stories in the Bible of His faithfulness or ask someone to share their stories. (It might be helpful to write these down so you can use them in the future.)
As we recall God’s faithfulness, it helps us find the courage we need to face the scary things in our lives. That is why David was so brave when he faced Goliath. He remembered all the other times that God helped him. “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” —1 Samuel 17:37
We must remember not to act solely based on our emotions of fear. Doing so will only keep us stuck and frustrated. When we act in faith and with a sound mind as the past heroes of the faith have done before, we allow God to demonstrate His trustworthiness to us. By responding in faith, we open ourselves up to experiencing just how reliable He truly is. Wow, just imagine all the things God might do through someone who completely trusts in Him!! I want to be that person. I hope you do, too!
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