Topical Encyclopedia
Fear and anxiety are emotions that are frequently addressed in the Bible, reflecting the human experience of uncertainty, danger, and the unknown. These emotions are often depicted as challenges to faith and trust in God, yet they are also acknowledged as natural human responses. The Bible provides guidance on how to confront and overcome fear and anxiety through reliance on God's promises and presence.
Biblical Understanding of FearIn the Bible, fear can be understood in two primary ways: the fear of the Lord and the fear of worldly circumstances. The fear of the Lord is a reverential awe and respect for God, which is considered the beginning of wisdom.
Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." This type of fear is encouraged as it leads to a deeper relationship with God and a life aligned with His will.
Conversely, the fear of worldly circumstances is often depicted as a lack of trust in God's sovereignty and provision. In
Isaiah 41:10, God reassures His people, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." This verse highlights the biblical teaching that God's presence and support are antidotes to fear.
Anxiety in the ScripturesAnxiety, like fear, is addressed in the Bible as a common human experience. The Scriptures encourage believers to cast their anxieties on God, trusting in His care and provision.
Philippians 4:6-7 advises, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This passage emphasizes the importance of prayer and thanksgiving as means to combat anxiety and receive divine peace.
Jesus' Teachings on Fear and AnxietyJesus Christ addressed fear and anxiety directly in His teachings, often encouraging His followers to trust in God's provision and care. In
Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus instructs His disciples not to worry about their lives, what they will eat or drink, or about their bodies and what they will wear. He points to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples of God's provision, concluding with the exhortation, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (
Matthew 6:33).
Furthermore, in
John 14:27, Jesus offers His peace to His disciples, saying, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." This peace is distinct from worldly peace and is rooted in the assurance of His presence and the hope of eternal life.
The Role of Faith in Overcoming Fear and AnxietyFaith plays a crucial role in overcoming fear and anxiety.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This assurance allows believers to face fears and anxieties with confidence in God's promises. The Bible is replete with examples of individuals who, through faith, overcame fear and anxiety, such as David facing Goliath (1 Samuel 17) and Daniel in the lions' den (Daniel 6).
Practical Steps for BelieversThe Bible offers practical steps for believers to manage fear and anxiety. These include prayer, meditation on Scripture, and community support.
1 Peter 5:7 encourages believers to "cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." Engaging in regular prayer and meditation on God's Word can reinforce trust in His promises. Additionally, the support of a faith community can provide encouragement and accountability.
In summary, the Bible acknowledges fear and anxiety as part of the human condition but offers a pathway to peace through faith, prayer, and reliance on God's promises. Through these means, believers are equipped to face life's uncertainties with courage and confidence in God's unfailing love and sovereignty.
Topical Bible Verses
Matthew 6:25-34Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Topicalbible.orgLuke 12:22-26
And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on.
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Isaiah 41:10
Fear you not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
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1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you.
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Matthew 6:34
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.
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Isaiah 35:4
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.
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John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
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Philippians 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
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Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
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Psalm 23:4
Yes, 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.
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Greek
74. agonia -- a contest, greatfear... o-nee'-ah) Short Definition: contest, agony Definition: (properly the feeling of
the athlete before a contest), great
fear, terror, of death;
anxiety, agony.
...Strong's Hebrew
2731. charadah -- trembling,fear,anxiety... charadah. 2732 . trembling,
fear,
anxiety. Transliteration: charadah Phonetic
Spelling: (khar-aw-daw') Short Definition: trembling. Word Origin fem.
...1674. deagah --anxiety, anxious care
... carefulness,fear, heaviness, sorrow. From da'ag;anxiety -- care(-fulness),fear,
heaviness, sorrow. see HEBREW da'ag. 1673, 1674. deagah. 1675 ....
1672. daag -- to be anxious or concerned, tofear
... root Definition to be anxious or concerned, tofear NASB Word Usage anxious (3),
become anxious (1), dread (1), full ofanxiety (1), worried (1)....
2729. charad -- to tremble, be terrified
... A primitive root; to shudder with terror; hence, tofear; also to hasten (withanxiety)
-- be (make) afraid, be careful, discomfit, fray (away), quake, tremble...
Library
Out of the Deep ofFear andAnxiety.
... III. OUT OF THE DEEP OFFEAR ANDANXIETY. My heart is disquieted within me.
Tearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible...
Letter xii. --How to Make Use of Trials.
... 4th. Another great grace is to feel neither trouble, norfear noranxiety about
your present state, nor about the future, just as though you had become callous...
The Kingdom of God.
... We should leave his presence with that impression, infear andanxiety.
But if we afterwards discovered that ourfear andanxiety...
ConcerningFear.
...Anxiety isfear of failure, that is, of misfortune: for when wefear that our efforts
will not meet with success, we sufferanxiety. Footnotes:...
The Use ofFear in Religion.
... experience. Religiousfear andanxiety are the prelude to religious peace and
joy. These are the discords that prepare for the concords....
Lii. Concerning Hypocrisy, WorldlyAnxiety, Watchfulness, and his...
... Concerning Hypocrisy, WorldlyAnxiety, Watchfulness, and His Approaching Passion....
works in two ways: it causes the bad man to hide his badness forfear of the...
The Earthquake.
... order; consequently, the disturbance of the festival was not followed by an
insurrection, although every heart was fixed withfear andanxiety, whichanxiety...
The Bequest of Peace.
... be. Introduce remorse or an evil conscience, and you destroy peace; introduce
fear oranxiety, and peace is impossible. Introduce...
The Holy Spirit Bearing Witness to Our Sonship.
... sons. He longs to hear us call Him Father from hearts that realize what
they say, and that trust Him without afear oranxiety. He...
The Lord Our Dwelling Place
... as a self-evident truth that the moment I have really committed anything into this
divine dwelling place, that moment allfear andanxiety should cease....
Resources
What does “perfect love casts out fear” mean? | GotQuestions.orgHow is the fear of man a snare (Proverbs 29:25)? | GotQuestions.orgHow is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom? | GotQuestions.orgFear: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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