How to Face Your Fears with Faith

by Pastor Jack Graham

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 John 4:18

The well-known newspaper column “Ask Ann Landers” has received thousands, perhaps even millions, of letters over the years from people asking for advice. One day, the woman who wrote under the pseudonym Ann Landers was asked, “What’s the number one problem the people who are writing to you face?” She thought for a moment and said, “Fear... people are afraid.”

Fear is as pervasive in our culture as breathing. We who live today are arguably safer than anyone who has ever lived in history. Yet whenever we seem to eradicate one problem, our minds will simply jump to the next one.

This is because fear is inevitable. But as believers, we can choose whether we will fear the right things or the wrong things. As today’s verse tells us, “perfect love casts out fear.” But as we read Proverbs 9:10, we also see that the “fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”

Fear is good when it’s a healthy respect for something that is bigger than you. But when your fear is focused on things that really have no power over you, then your fear is actually idolatry, because you’re ascribing power to something that’s powerless.

Don’t fear things that are powerless. Instead, have a healthy, fearful respect for God, who is bigger than everything and empowers you to overcome any fear you face!

PLACE YOUR FEAR IN THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD WHO LOVES YOU AND GIVES YOU THE POWER TO FACE YOUR FEARS WITH FAITH!