“So 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” (Isaiah 41:10).

Is it wrong to fear, to be afraid? It certainly sounds like it. There are more than one hundred times when the Bible seems to command us “Do not fear” or “Do not be afraid.” However, fear is a natural human response. How well can I remember when I would cry as a child, and my dad would tell me to stop crying. Hard as I would try, I just could not. My throat would hurt because I tried so hard, but I just cried even more. It is the same with fear. Just being commanded to not fear will not take the fear away. So why would the Bible tell us not to be afraid?

Edward Welch has authored an article, “Fear Is Not Sin,” in which he addresses this very subject. He contends that Jesus’ intent in saying “Do not fear” is more of an expression of care and compassion. It meant that he was going to offer comfort and healing, such as when he approached the widow of Nain in Luke 7:13.

Welch also writes that Scripture expects us to be afraid. We read how David goes to the Lord with his fears, and this pleases God. David sets an example for us in this way. We know that he is not sinning, and he is not confessing a sin when he cries out to God “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me” (Psalm 55:4-5).

We learn from Scripture that fear is not weakness. Joshua, second in command to Moses, the great commander of the Israelites, was certainly not a weak man. However, Moses passed along God’s word to Joshua that he himself had been told, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).

What are we to do, then, when these feelings of fear and dismay come upon us? I know that you face many life-or-death situations while working on the front lines at the Mission—guests who are out of control, mentally ill, overdosing. Guests and program participants come to you with unique needs you may not feel equipped to handle. What are we to do when faced with something insurmountable, or when we are just overwhelmed with self-doubt; when we are afraid of the unknown, or afraid that “it” will happen again? First, we can take our cues from David and see them as opportunities to turn to God. God absolutely wants the absolute best for us.

It is not so much a matter of repentance for having little faith, but an opportunity to grow the faith that we have. We also call this maturing in faith. Courage is not the absence of fear, but it is what enables us to persevere despite being afraid. We may feel like the people Jesus describes as “You of little faith.” But note that is not a criticism; it is a starting point. Jesus says that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. The task of someone with little faith is not repentance, it is instead growth. We pray, “increase our faith.” We stay the course and grow.  

We realize that the things that cause us to fear may be tests that God has intentionally set before us to provide opportunities under God’s leadership to grow. We are so blessed to live in the time of the Holy Spirit, whom God has specifically sent to be our counselor and guide during these trying times.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

So, it is not wrong to fear. But it is wrong not to use our fear to mature our faith by trusting God and calling on the Holy Spirit to guide us through every situation we encounter.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? “(Psalm 56:3-4).

In Christ,

Judy