All men are born with a sense of fear. Some of these fears are innate and some are learned. Research shows that our innate fears include predators, pain, heights, rapidly approaching objects and ancestral threats like snakes and spiders.[1] Our body is constructed by God with a built-in mechanism to protect us. This automatic physiological reaction is called “fight or flight” response, and it is a combination of the body identifying an innate fear, and then reacting to it through either fighting it or fleeing.
In his 1915 book Bodily Changes in Pain, Hunger, Fear and Rage, physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon noted that when we are threatened, our bodies all have similar responses, including releasing of adrenaline, cortisol and epinephrine, increased heart rate and respiration, increased blood flow to muscles, eye dilation, and the liver delivering more glucose to the muscles and brain.[2] The body prepares automatically and without our input to quickly react and protect itself from danger. Put your hand on a hot stove or in an electrical socket, and your arm instantly pulls away. Or, hear a noise in the house late at night, and you immediately reach for a heavy object and your eyes adjust to see more clearly in the dark.
As leaders mature, we begin to manifest some common fears that come with age and experience. Some of the fears we might experience include:
Being unable to afford living expenses or medical treatments
Being dependent on others
Being the victim of abuse or a crime or feeling defenseless or unsafe in a situation
A loved one becoming seriously ill or dying
Being left alone, or isolated from family
Loss of dignity or self-esteem because of issues that naturally occur as you mature[3]
Where does fear come from? The Bible says that our fear is the result of sin. When Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, he hid in fear—this is the first time fear is ever mentioned. Genesis 3:8-10 recounts, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’”
Throughout the Bible we see examples of fear. Moses was afraid when God told him to confront Pharaoh. The Israelites were afraid of giants that were living in the Promised Land. Jonah was afraid when God told him to go to Nineveh. Elijah feared Queen Jezebel. Fear of men and earthly troubles that we face was common in Bible times all the way through our time. Our greatest fears now tend to focus on what others might do to us—pain or loss we may suffer as a result of our actions or inactions.
It's in this context that God tells us not to fear. Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” The phrase “fear not” appears 302 times in Scripture; “Do not be afraid” appears 33 times, “Do not fear” appears 66 times; “Do not be dismayed” is written 99 times. It is the most repeated command in the Bible. Not a request or suggestion, but a command, given by God. When it comes to obeying God and contemplating the negative consequences possible by the hands of men, we are instructed over and over, do not fear. Why should we “fear not” when it comes to God?
God’s presence goes with us. We might have fear that we are in isolated in a situation or circumstance—that we have to face a difficulty alone. But God is always with us. Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” And again in Deuteronomy 31:6, God says, “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” The presence of God gives us confidence to face our fears.
God’s promises are for us. Scripture promises that when we trust God, He keeps us safe. Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” God also promises to give us strength in our difficulties. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Jesus Himself promised with regard to His disciples fearing persecution, “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all” (Matthew 10:26). Jesus promises that as we endure difficulty, in the end we will be proved right and the motives of those against Christ will be exposed.
God’s peace is upon us. In our challenges and troubles, God provides His peace. This is an innate sense that God is working for our good and His glory, so we can be calm and collected through we face fearful circumstances. John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” What things has God told us? We know about Jesus, and we know the “end of the story”, what happens to the earth and all that we fear. Because we know these things we can have peace that God is in control and nothing that happens is unexpected to Him.
God’s protection is around us. Just as we have an autonomic nervous system that protects our bodies automatically when threatened, we have a spiritual mechanism given to us by God to allay our fears. 2 Timothy 1:7 confirms, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” We are not left to face our challenges with fear and timidity. Paul is writing to his protégé Timothy as one who has been abandoned by his friends, attacked by his foes and left alone in a Roman prison. Yet Paul writes that he is not fearful in his suffering. This is not a pep-talk or Paul saying that Timothy needs to have a certain mindset. Instead we are equipped with God’s Holy Spirit, the power of God Himself to guide our thoughts, actions and relationships. Spirit-produced power enables us to endure suffering and to abound in hope in whatever circumstances we face (2 Timothy 1:8, Romans 15:13).[4]
God’s provision is given to us.Psalm 23 is a great song about God’s provision through fear and difficulties. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The rod and staff are instruments that a shepherd uses to guide his sheep. Psalm 23 begins, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing…” (Psalm 23:1). The picture given is of someone walking through a fearful situation, and God as shepherd providing for their needs, pulling them back with the staff when they wander off the right path, pushing them forward with the rod when they aren’t moving. Psalm 23:8 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
There are aspects of the Father that go above our heads. Though we can’t possibly know all the ways of God, we can know, in a broad sense, how God’s ways are higher our ways.