Encouraging Bible Verses About Fear

Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

And while this is a noble and courageous sentiment, it’s much easier to talk about than to actually practice. The grim reality is that there are a thousand things that can cause us to fear. We fear unemployment, financial crisis, health catastrophes, relational difficulties, and whatever else we can imagine.

The good news is that God wants us to be totally free from fear. He wants us to live joyful, confident, trust-filled lives.

To help us be rid of fear, He has given us many encouraging Bible verses about fear.

When we believe and embrace these truths, fear flees. Fear can’t stand up to God’s promises.

Use these Bible verses about fear to strengthen and encourage you as you go through life.

He rules over everything and orchestrates all circumstances. Nothing can happen without God permitting it.

But God is not just all powerful. He is also infinitely loving. He loves you with a perfect, intense, unstoppable love. When you embrace both the power and love of God, fear melts away.

In his book Mastering Your Emotions, Pastor Adrian Rogers said:

"God showed me that this verse didn’t mean that if I loved Him perfectly, I would not be afraid. He showed me that I do not have to be afraid because God loves me perfectly. His perfect love eliminates all dread of what He might do to us. Sometimes Christians are fearful of what God might do to them or either allow to happen to them. But if we fear, that shows we are not fully convinced that He really loves us."

Even when you find yourself in the worst circumstances, you can be free from fear. Your peace doesn’t come from your circumstances, it comes from knowing that the Lord, your Shepherd is with you.

Just as a shepherd cares for, protects, and watches over his sheep, so God cares for, protects, and watches over you. He is leading you to green pastures and still waters. Though you may feel like you’re walking in darkness, God is guiding your every step.

The Lord is also your salvation. He is the One who hears your cries and delivers you. No one can stop God’s mighty salvation.

The Lord is the strength of your life.

Though you may feel weak and worn down, God will lift you up. He will sustain you and keep you. He will give you the strength to bear burdens you would not otherwise be able to handle.

Therefore, you don’t need to be afraid or fear.

God is your refuge and strength. He is a fortress, a strong tower, and an unshakeable rock. When waves crash all around you, take your refuge in God. He stands firm in the midst of the storm and He protects all those who hope in Him.

God is also a very present help in the midst of your trouble. He is not distant, far off, or uninterested. He is with you, shielding you and guarding you. Even if the earth itself began to crumble and the mountains dissolve into the sea, you don’t need to be afraid. The God who created the earth and the mountains is present with you.

Pastor Adrian Rogers said:

"Faith can face fear and overcome. When we understand that 'greater is He that is in you than he [the devil] that is in the world' (1 John 4:4) and our strength is greater than our foe, there’s no need to be afraid."

God has given you power. The Holy Spirit dwells within you, and the Spirit supplies you with the power you need to honor God in any situation. In Mastering Your Emotions, Pastor Adrian Rogers says:

So often we are afraid because we do not believe we have the necessary resources to face the challenges before us. We do not have the spiritual equipment with which to face the foe—the devil himself. If I understand that the Resident within me is greater than any foe anywhere, I do not have to be afraid.

God has also given you love. God loves you with a perfect love, and that perfect love drives out all fear.

And God has given you a sound mind. Instead of being overwhelmed by your fears, you can see them through the lens of God’s promises.

God gives the same encouragement to you that He gave to the Israelites. You can be strong, brave, and of good courage, even in the face of difficult circumstances. Why?

Because God will always be with you. In sickness and health, God is present. In joy and sorrow, God is near. In prosperity and poverty, God will sustain you. He will never leave you or forsake you. When you know that God will always be faithful, you can be free from fear.

Second, He helps you. Though your circumstances may be overwhelming and intimidating, they are not bigger than God. He can handle everything that you encounter.

Finally, He will uphold you with His right hand. The trials of life may weigh you down and heavily burden you, but God will sustain you.

Because God strengthens, helps, and upholds you, you can be free from fear. No matter what comes your way, you can be confident that God will hold you fast.

Fear Not

Over and over in the Bible, God commands His people to “fear not”. On the surface, this can seem like an impossible command given that we live in a world of hurricanes and cancer and car crashes.

But when we see the glorious promises God has given us, we begin to see how we can live without fear. God is greater than our fears. No matter what we encounter, God Himself goes with us.

Pastor Adrian Rogers said:

"When you see God’s mighty power on one hand and His mighty love on the other, fear melts away. Rest in that love. Say, 'Lord, no matter what happens to me, I know You love me. And because You love me and You are all-powerful, You are working all things together for my good' (Rom. 8:28)."

Today, you can rest in the love and power of God. Though storms buffet you on every side, though enemies come against you, you can have peace. God’s presence creates an eye in the midst of the hurricane of life. The winds whip wildly about but you have stillness.

Bring all your fears to God. He loves you and doesn’t want you to be dominated by fear.