When one of my granddaughters was younger (she is nine years old now), she was afraid to go to sleep when she spent the night at our house. She wanted to be there, but she was afraid. At bedtime, we would walk around the room with her and make sure that closet doors and drawers were closed, that anything that might make a funny shadow or light during the night was covered, and I would sprinkle magic fairy dust all around (my own secret recipe stored in an old spice jar). Then we would read, sing, and pray together. We would hold her if necessary, and finally she would go to sleep. I would tell her to not be afraid, but it was useless. And of course, it was. I have things that I am afraid of. Try telling me not to be afraid of dogs, for example. Now, I know better; I know that dog isn’t going to hurt me, but that doesn’t stop me from experiencing the feeling of fear.

Many of the devotions, songs, and scriptures that I have been posting each day have to do with fear. Jesus says, “do not fear” and “do not be afraid” very often in the Bible. Honestly, I have read into these scriptures a commandment. I thought “Let not your heart be troubled” was a mandate to believers. But after reading an article entitled “Fear Is Not Sin” by Edward Welch*, I thought it would be helpful to share some of his thoughts with you.

First, even though the statement “Do not fear” sounds like a command, it may not be a command. When you tell someone not to be afraid, are you commanding them? Probably not. You are probably trying offer comfort or security with your words. You are probably inferring that you are with them and will look out for them, just like I was doing with my granddaughter, and just like Jesus was doing when he said “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:22). Jesus sees us as vulnerable sheep needing his care. His words are gentle and affectionate. Our fears arouse his compassion—not his rebuke. “He has pity on the weak and the needy…. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” (Ps 72:13; 103:14).

Second, Jesus expects us to be afraid sometimes. The Psalms contain many expressions of fear. Even the Apostle Paul said, “For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within” (2 Cor 7:5). Welch says, “Fear and anxiety express our weakness amid the threats of daily life. We are merely human. We are not the Creator. Weak people are also sinners, but weakness is not sin. Weakness means that we need help from God and other people. “

Last, when we are anxious or afraid, this is the time to call out to God. And when we go to him in prayer seeing comfort, also seek courage to act. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is acting despite our fears. As Welch says, “Courageous faith cries out, ‘Lord, save me.’” Yet courage, like the Psalms themselves, doesn’t stop there. It leads us into a mature and tested understanding of the Lord. “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” (Ps 56:3–4)

The bottom line is that fear itself is not sin. The reason for our fear might be sinful, like the fear of being caught doing something we should not be doing, or fear relating to excessive or idolatrous desires. And our response to fear could be sin, such as failing to talk to God about it, failing to obey God, or falling into temptation. The Bible is full of stories of people who acted wrongly out of fear. But it is also full of stories of godly men and women who took comfort in God and were obedient.

So, don’t be afraid of being afraid. Just take your fears to God and do what He says. Let’s grow together.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

In Christ,

Judy

*Excerpts from Journal of Biblical Counseling, JBC 34:1 (2020): 7–19, published by Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (ccef.org).