“Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of your arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.” Exodus 15:16
The word fear appears over 400 times in the King James Version of the Bible in 385 different verses. Even though it appears so many times, there are only 35 separate meanings; 25 are in Hebrew and 10 are in Greek. Each of these meanings have some subtle variations from the others, but all have the same basic meaning – to be afraid.
Webster’s Dictionary defines Fear as, an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger, an instance of this emotion, a state marked by this emotion, anxious concern, profound reverence and awe especially toward God, and reason for alarm: DANGER.
Litany Against Fear
I’m a huge science fiction fan and one of my favorite quotes about fear is by Frank Herbert in his novel, Dune. The hero, Paul Atreides, is being tested to see if he is indeed a human or merely an animal. The test is to see if he is mindful enough to overcome his fear of the pain being induced in his hand. In other words, does he have the self-control to endure the pain? If not, if he removes his hand prematurely, he will be injected with a quick acting neuro-toxin leading to near instantaneous death.
During this test Paul quotes a mantra, the Litany Against Fear:
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
While not a Christian, I believe Herbert described perfectly in a biblical way the effects of fear on our lives and the way to overcome it.
Fear Not
Of the 400 times the word fear appears in scripture, the term “fear not” appears 365 times which just so happens to be the number of days in our year. Some of the more widely known verses are Isaiah 41:10 (“Fear not, for I am with you”); Joshua 1:9 (“Do not be afraid…for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”); and 2 Timothy 1:7 (“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”).
These verses are alluding to fears considered by God as unhealthy or toxic. This is because they represent man’s distrust of God to take care of our every need and believing He doesn’t have our best interests at heart. 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” explains God’s response to these irrational fears perfectly.
God’s Litany Against Fear
‘Spirit’ is pneuma, G4151 in Strong’s Concordance. It means the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides; the soul (mind, will, and emotions). ‘Fear’ is deilia, G1167 in Strong’s Concordance. It means timidity and cowardice. It is the mind killer that leads to total obliteration. If we entertain it, it will paralyze our soul and lead us to death and destruction.
‘Power’ is dynamis G1411 in Strong’s Concordance and means inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; miraculous power. ‘Love’ is agape, G26 in Strong’s Concordance and means unconditional benevolence and affection, a love feast (I love that!). ‘Sound mind’ is sōphronismos, G4995 in Strong’s Concordance and means a call to self-control and moderation.
Overcoming Fear
Fear is an emotion induced by perceived danger or threat, either physical, emotional, or psychological, real or imagined. This in turn causes physiological changes and ultimately behavioral changes. We see them as an aggressive response or fleeing the threat (fight or flight). In human beings it is a response to a certain stimulus occurring in the present, or in anticipation of a perceived future threat.
But God said He has not given us a mind, a will, and emotions that will submit to timidity and cowardice. Instead, He has given us a mind, a will, and emotions full of boldness and His miraculous power to overcome and face those fears. One that is full of benevolent, unconditional love and affection for others. One that is able to walk in moderation and in full control of itself.
Defeating Fear
When we finally come to a place where we truly understand and accept 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.” we will understand that it truly has no power but what we give it. We will allow it to pass over and through us and cast it out from our minds. It is then that we will be free from it. That’s when we will choose to reject the comforts it offers us and run to the Father.
Then we will seek His wisdom to combat whatever triggered the it, as stated in Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” This will then lead us to the awe and reverence for His amazing love and goodness, which centers on the wisdom of God and understanding of His plan for our collective and individual lives as it states in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (a hope and a future).”
Fear in Our Society
In our society today, fear is something that entangles itself in every aspect of our lives. Statistical studies show that more than 30% of adults in the United States struggle with anxiety disorders or phobias. These fears cause us to trust in things, people, places, idols, etc., instead of trusting in the One who created everything and breathed life into us. Our fears are most often rooted in the belief that God is out to condemn us through our trials and hurts.
I can attest to this being true. When my wife recently passed away after 11 years of marriage I asked God what I did wrong. I asked Him why he was punishing me. This accommodates fear of God in the Old Testament. People followed the Law set by God in fear that if they didn’t, He would take His favor from them. However, through Jesus’s sacrifice and resurrection, we now have a Savior who took the punishment for those sins. He brings us to a place where God only wants to offer love, peace, and the opportunity to serve alongside Him.
Fear is the Mind Killer
Fear is crippling and pushes even the most poised people into states of utter discomfort and uncertainty, but God reminds people through His Word that because of Jesus, there is nothing to fear. Hebrews 2:14, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Even with death or failure, Jesus can still remove those fears.
Why we should not fear
The Bible makes it plainly clear through several verses, include Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 6:34, and John 14:27. Fear will cause your mind and judgment to be clouded. This will lead you to make decisions that you wouldn’t have made if you had a clear head. When you don’t worry about what’s ahead and trust God for the outcome, His peace begins to fill your mind instead. That’s when His blessings emerge. Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.”