Halloween is a holiday that emphasizes fear. From haunted houses to horror movies, people who celebrate Halloween often enjoy being afraid and experiencing the thrill of terror. However, experiencing fear is not limited to October 31 and is not always “fun and games.” Everyone in life is going to experience real and challenging fear at some point in their lives. This may come because of a cancer diagnosis, a job loss, or being scared for the safety of the eternal condition of loved ones.
For Christians, they have a solution for fear by trusting in their Lord Jesus. However, the interaction between faith and fear is not simplistic. Having faith in God does not mean a person will never experience the debilitating effects of fear, especially when unsettling circumstances arise in life.
Faith and fear are discussed throughout Scripture, as shown by biblical figures responding to fear, specific statements about not being afraid, and finding strength in Christ. Based on Scripture, faith in the presence of fear is what marks the faithful followers of the Lord.
Defining Faith and Fear
Before discussing the relation between faith and fear, these terms need to be defined. According to Scripture, “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV). Faith is basically synonymous with trust.
People can be said to have faith when they place trust in Jesus, even though they cannot see Him (John 20:29; Romans 10:9-11). Trusting in God and His promises are essential parts of biblical faith.
However, despite the popular saying of “taking a leap of faith,” biblical faith is not blind faith because it is based on God’s Word and His Son. Christian faith is grounded in Scripture and based on a person’s trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
In the Bible, fear has different meanings. For instance, many modern English translations have kept the phrase “fear of the Lord,” however this does not mean being afraid of God. Instead, this means having reverence and respect for the Lord, standing in awe of Him (Job 28:28; Psalm 25:14; 111:10; 112:1; Proverbs 1:7; Luke 1:50).
This article is going to discuss the type of fear, which means being afraid, panicked, worried, or terrified. Fear can range from worrying about paying for bills to feeling afraid because of cancer or other health diagnoses.
Also, for many Christians around the world, the concept of fear likely involves the real threat of physical persecution because of their faith, which surely causes them fear, even so, they love and serve Christ.
As will be seen from biblical examples, faith and fear relate together in a different way than is commonly perceived. Followers of God can trust in God even when they feel afraid. Hence, believers who have faced persecution in the past and present were and are able to have faith during a fearful situation, not because of their own courage but because of the Lord.
Learning from Biblical Figures
Many figures in the Bible are often thought of as strong, courageous heroes. Children in Sunday School are often told about these heroes of faith who fearlessly followed the Lord, such as Moses, Joshua, Gideon, and David.
Despite these story-like depictions by churches and teachers, the Bible presents an altogether different picture. These “heroes” faithfully followed God despite their fear, as told in the history of God’s Word.
Moses, Joshua, and Gideon were not completely without fear when the Lord called them to carry out His specific commands for their life. Moses pleaded with the Lord to send someone else to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 4:13).
The Israelite military leader, Joshua, had to be encouraged to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, NIV).
Furthermore, Gideon was fearful of his family and neighbors when God told him to tear down the altar to idols, but the Lord used him anyway (Judges 6:14-16, 25-27).
While David is known as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), this does not mean he did not experience fear. When he was frightened of Saul’s murderous intention, David’s friend, Jonathan, encouraged him to trust in the Lord (1 Samuel 23:15-17).
The Psalms of David reveal that the shepherd-king was a man who felt deeply. In one psalm, David reminds himself that he does not have to be afraid because God was with him (Psalm 27:1-3). Far from being a man without fear, David instead affirmed his trust in God: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3, NIV).
Israelites who were involved in the Babylonian exile also experienced times when they were afraid. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah all likely were frightened when they were about to be thrown into the fiery furnace for disobeying Nebuchadnezzar’s command to worship his statue (Daniel 3:8-15).
However, the three Hebrew men chose to trust in the Lord, even if He chose not to rescue them from the fire (Daniel 3:16-18). Likewise, Queen Esther also surely felt fear when Mordecai implored her to stand before King Xerxes for her people (Esther 4:6-9).
She feared for her life since any who approached a king of Persia without prior request faced possible execution (Esther 4:11). Despite her fear, Esther fasted and prayed to the Lord, trusting in Him when she faced her husband, Xerxes (Esther 4:12-17).
The New Testament also includes numerous examples of Christians exercising faith even when they were afraid. The Book of Acts is clear that the spread of the gospel was done through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
The disciples did not carry the Good News to others through their own strength, but by God’s strength (Acts 2:3-10; 8:39; 11:11-18). Paul recognized this, when he said, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).
In fact, the Apostle Paul describes himself as going to the Corinthians with fear and trembling (1 Corinthians 2:3). Through God’s strength, not their own, the early Christians were able to spread the gospel despite persecution and opposition.
God’s Power and Presence
Clearly, faith is not about being unafraid, but trusting in God. Scripture says that perfect love drives out fear, referring to God’s love (1 John 4:18). Also, God does not give a Spirit of fear, but rather His presence through the indwelling Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:7).
Believers do not have to give in to their fear because the Lord promises to be with them. This is why God often reminds His followers to not be afraid since He is with them (Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10; John 14:27).
Likewise, believers are given the same promise because Christ told His disciples He would be with them to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Amidst the fear that so often comes in life, followers of Christ can place their trust in their Savior even when they feel afraid.
While there are many Christian cliches about faith’s power over fear, people often miss the point of faith. Believers have faith in Jesus, and it is Christ who banishes the fear, not the believers themselves or their concept of faith.
Rather, by faith, Christians are choosing to trust God, who offers His power and presence during the frightful situations His children will face. Lyrics in a recently released song by Benjamin Hastings, called “Homeward,” describe this idea well, “I’ve learnt faith isn’t fearless, it’s just trusting when you fear the most” (“Homeward,” Worship Together, 2021).
Trust in God
The Bible is filled with examples of people who chose to trust in God in frightening situations. Even so, they were afraid, they chose to trust God and follow Him. Most of these followers are even mentioned in the Hebrews 11 “hall of faith,” which includes those who were faithful to God.
These examples from Scripture combined with specific verses, which talk about fear demonstrate that believers can choose faith instead of fear because of God’s presence and power. Trusting that God is with them, believers can confidently and boldly follow the Lord even when faced with the unsettling circumstances of life.
Thus, being a faithful follower of Christ does not mean being unafraid but trusting in God, despite the fear, and following where He leads.
For further reading:
How Is God Not the Author of Fear?
Why Was Evil Celebrated on Halloween?
Why Do We Celebrate Fear at Halloween?
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