What Are You Afraid Of?

Confronting Fear with Biblical Truth

Fear is one of the most powerful emotions that can grip the human heart. It has the ability to paralyse us, to stop us in our tracks, and to prevent us from fulfilling the purposes that God has designed for our lives. Throughout Scripture, we see countless examples of individuals who faced their fears and, through faith in God, overcame them to accomplish great things for His kingdom. Yet we also see examples of those who allowed fear to dictate their actions, missing out on God's best for their lives.

The question "What are you afraid of?" is not merely rhetorical—it is a profound inquiry into the state of our hearts and the strength of our faith. When we allow fear to dominate our decisions, we are essentially saying that we trust our circumstances more than we trust God. This blog explores how fear stops us from carrying out that which we have been called to do, and how we can overcome it through biblical truth.

The Nature of Fear

Fear is a natural human response to perceived danger or threat. However, when fear becomes a controlling force in our lives, it moves beyond healthy caution into the realm of spiritual bondage. The apostle Paul reminds us, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV). This verse makes it clear that debilitating fear does not come from God. Instead, God gives us power, love, and a sound mind—the very tools we need to overcome our fears.

When we look at the life of Moses, we see someone who initially allowed fear to prevent him from fulfilling his calling. When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses responded with a litany of excuses rooted in fear: "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?" (Exodus 3:11, KJV). Moses was afraid of his inadequacy, afraid of failure, and afraid of what others might think. Yet God patiently addressed each of Moses's fears, assuring him, "Certainly I will be with thee" (Exodus 3:12, KJV).

Fear of Inadequacy

One of the most common fears that prevents us from answering God's call is the fear of inadequacy—the belief that we are not good enough, smart enough, or talented enough to accomplish what God is asking of us. This fear whispers lies such as, "Who are you to think you can do this?" or "You don't have what it takes."

Yet Scripture repeatedly shows us that God delights in using ordinary, flawed people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. Gideon is a perfect example. When the angel of the Lord appeared to him, Gideon was hiding in a winepress, afraid of the Midianites. The angel greeted him with, "The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour" (Judges 6:12, KJV). Gideon's response revealed his fear: "Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us?" (Judges 6:13, KJV). Gideon felt inadequate and questioned whether God was truly with him. But God saw beyond Gideon's fear and used him to deliver Israel.

When we feel inadequate, we must remember that our adequacy does not come from ourselves but from God. Paul declares, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" (2 Corinthians 3:5, KJV). God does not call the equipped; He equips the called.

Fear of Failure

Another paralysing fear is the fear of failure. We worry about what will happen if we step out in faith and things don't work out as we hoped. This fear keeps many Christians from attempting great things for God. We would rather stay in our comfort zones than risk the possibility of failing.

Peter experienced this fear when he stepped out of the boat to walk on water towards Jesus. Initially, his faith overcame his fear, and he miraculously walked on the water. But "when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me" (Matthew 14:30, KJV). Peter's fear caused him to take his eyes off Jesus and focus on his circumstances, and he began to sink.

However, it's important to note that Peter was the only disciple who got out of the boat. Even though he faltered, he had more faith than those who stayed behind. Jesus didn't rebuke Peter for trying; He simply asked, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:31, KJV). God honours our willingness to step out in faith, even when we stumble along the way.

Fear of Man

The fear of what others might think, say, or do is a powerful deterrent to obedience. The Bible warns, "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25, KJV). When we are more concerned about pleasing people than pleasing God, we become ensnared by our own fears.

The apostle Peter struggled with this fear. After boldly preaching on the day of Pentecost and leading thousands to Christ, Peter later compromised his convictions because he feared the opinions of certain Jewish believers. Paul had to confront him publicly, saying, "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed" (Galatians 2:11, KJV). Peter's fear of man had caused him to act hypocritically, and it took correction to bring him back to the truth.

We must remember that our ultimate accountability is to God, not to people. Paul wrote, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10, KJV). When we live to please God rather than people, we are freed from the fear of man.

Overcoming Fear Through Faith

So how do we overcome fear and walk in the calling God has placed on our lives? The answer is faith. Faith is not the absence of fear; it is moving forward despite our fears, trusting that God is faithful to His promises.

Joshua faced immense fear when he was called to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses's death. God knew Joshua's heart and spoke words of encouragement that have echoed through the centuries: "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" (Joshua 1:9, KJV). God didn't say Joshua wouldn't face challenges or dangers; He promised that He would be with Joshua wherever he went.

This is the key to overcoming fear: knowing and believing that God is with us. The psalmist declared, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1, KJV). When we truly grasp that our Heavenly Father is on our side, our fears lose their power over us.

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Finally, we must understand that the antidote to fear is love—specifically, God's love for us. The apostle John wrote, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18, KJV). When we are secure in God's love, we no longer need to be controlled by fear.

God's love for us is so great that He sent His only Son to die for our sins. If He loves us that much, can we not trust Him with our fears, our inadequacies, and our futures? Romans 8:31 (KJV) asks, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" . The answer is clear: no one and nothing can stand against us when God is on our side.

What are you afraid of? Whatever your fear may be—fear of inadequacy, fear of failure, fear of man, or any other fear—know that it does not have to control you. God has called you to specific purposes, and He has equipped you with everything you need to fulfil those purposes. Do not allow fear to rob you of the abundant life that Christ came to give you.

Remember the words of Isaiah: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10, KJV). Step out in faith today, knowing that God is with you, and watch as He does exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or think…

Key Takeaways:

• Fear does not come from God: God gives us power, love, and a sound mind, not a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV)
• Our adequacy comes from God: We don't need to be equipped before God calls us—He equips those He calls (2 Corinthians 3:5, KJV)
• Faith means moving forward despite fear: Like Peter walking on water, God honours those who step out in faith, even when they stumble
• The fear of man is a snare: We must seek to please God rather than people to fulfil our calling (Proverbs 29:25, KJV; Galatians 1:10, KJV)
• God's presence overcomes fear: Knowing that God is with us wherever we go gives us the courage to face our fears (Joshua 1:9, KJV)
• Perfect love casts out fear: When we understand God's love for us, fear loses its power over our lives (1 John 4:18, KJV)
• Don't let fear rob you of God's purposes: Whatever you're afraid of—inadequacy, failure, or rejection—it doesn't have to control you when you trust in God's faithfulness