When you are afraid of something, it’s tempting to avoid it. Spiders, snakes, public speaking, talking to cute girls . . . Humans have invented lots of excuses to avoid faicing fears.
On the occasion where you do encounter one of your fears—a grizzly pops out of the woods while you’re jogging, for example—your body oftens reacts automatically, whether it’s to fight, run away, or freeze. This physiological response could save your life.
(A bit of advice about bears: If it’s brown, stay down. If it’s black, fight back.)
But most of the time, our lives are not truly in danger when we’re feeling fear. You may think you’re going to die if you mess up your lines on stage, but statistically speaking, you’ll most likely survive. It’s not an issue of life-or-death.
For most of us, it’s an issue of trusting God.
Hey, I’m Lauren, author of YA Christian fiction and blogger for teens with higher aim.
In This Article
When Your Faith Flees
The problem with faith is that it literally requires you to trust something you cannot see.
Yes, I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins. But do I trust God to protect me as a severe storm bears down on my house? Is he really watching over me, ready to intervene on my behalf, as I prepare to stand up and defend a poor underclassman from a bully who very well may turn on me? How about when I travel a dark road in an unfamiliar locale alone? Or when I’m about to express a viewpoint that is Biblical, but not popular?
These are the moments that make faith challenging. But not impossible.
An Eye-Opening True Story
Gus was afraid. His boss had divulged top-secret information about an enemy’s whereabouts, and the enemy just found out. Now, an entire army was coming for them. Gus awoke the next morning to find the city surrounded. Imagine waking up to legions of soldiers carrying the fiercest weapons of the time, all lined up with one goal in mind: to take you out.
Naturally, Gus panicked. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?”
But his boss wasn’t afraid. He knew something Gus didn’t. “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then he prayed for Gus’s eyes to be opened. Suddenly, Gus looked and saw an even bigger army, with deadlier weapons, filling the countryside.
And the enemy was completely unaware of its presence.
This is a true story. We’re never told Gus’s real name, but his boss’s name was Elisha, and you can read all about it—and its unusual ending—in 2 Kings 6:8-23.
Where’s God When I’m Facing Fear?
“So what?” you might say. “That happened during Biblical times. God was more active in protecting his people then, right?”
God may have made his presence known more often during ancient times, but he hasn’t become absent or powerless since. The Bible does not end with God dying, but with God living on forever and loving his people. He’s as active in our lives as ever.
How do I know this? Because David said so in Psalm 34:7:
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
Do you realize what this means? You have our own 24/7 personal protection service, one more powerful and all-seeing than the President’s own Secret Service! You’re basically surrounded by a protective force field at all times, no matter where you go.
Except, this isn’t some sci-fi concept, but a real thing. You can trust God to protect you—because he promised he will.
Facing Fear: Practical Matters
So now that you know you’ve got your own personal bodyguards, let’s take a practical approach to facing fear.
1) It’s not all or nothing.
If your biggest phobia is water, diving into the deep end of the pool is unlikely to help you conquer that fear, and will probably make it worse. Start by wading in the shallow end. Then work up to your thighs, then your hips, etc.
If your fear is making new friends, start by saying hi and introducing yourself. Don’t feel you must push for anything beyond that the first time.
With any fear or phobia, easing in will help you build confidence. Set manageable goals and follow through consistently.
2) Do it for the right reasons.
You don’t have to stop being afraid of playing a flute solo in the band concert just because someone else thinks you should. Likewise, if you’re terrified of tarantulas but live in Wisconsin, there’s very little reason to worry about tackling that phobia.
On the other hand, if your fear of talking to boys is crippling your social life, this might be something to give attention to. Conquer fears to help you live a richer life and serve God with your best.
3) Be realistic.
Overcoming a fear of public speaking doesn’t mean you have to become a public figure, and facing your fear of water doesn’t mean the end goal is becoming an Olympic swimmer. You might never be truly comfortable at the mic or the swimming pool, and that’s okay. Conquering fear is more about doing away with the crippling sensations that keep you from moving forward with your goals.
Define success realistically.
4) Let God show you what you’re capable of.
Sometimes, facing fear means backing up and looking at the big picture. You know God loves you. You know he created you, and he made you capable. In light of his love and what he’s done for you, some perceived threats simply shrink on their own. For example, most of our social fears stem from worry over what others will think of us. But if pleasing God is your first goal, who cares what others think? If you know he loves you know matter what, why does it matter how the world judges you?
This is the ultimate end goal of conquering fear: Trusting God’s got your back and whatever the outcome, you’ll be fine.
Ready to develop a strong mind?
See how these practical steps can be applied to increasing overall mental resilience in Real Toughness Redefined: How to Develop a Strong Mind.
Trust God to Protect You From What Really Harms
What about when bad things still happen, even after you put your trust in God? Does that mean he lied—or isn’t as strong as you thought?
Don’t mistake the promises of the Bible for saying you will always live a comfortable life with no illness, injury, or opposition as long as you trust in God. If you read my post Are You Ready to Pay the Highest Price? you already know being a Christian is no guarantee of a cushy life and, in fact, the opposite may be true.
But remember this:
- You can’t always see when God intervenes on your behalf. Unlike Gus, your eyes might never be opened to the ways God has changed a particular outcome for you.
- God’s priority is to protect your soul. What you perceive as bad, he might in fact allow to happen to make you seek the strength and power found only in him. You do not need to fear the things that the rest of the world fears.
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”
Matthew 1:28
Still Having Trouble Trusting God?
Mark Twain famously said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” Don’t feel bummed if you aren’t ready to take on the world right now. Reading about trusting God once in a blog is not likely to instill boldness of faith in your heart. You can’t eat once and expect to be satisfied for life!
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”
Mark Twain
That’s why it’s so important to spend regular time studying your Bible and surround yourself with other Christians who are active in their faith. Keep reading, keep praying, keep worshipping. Want fuel for your faith sent right to your inbox? Sign up for my weekly blog updates and monthly inspirational note.
Take heart. The angel of the Lord is encamped around you. Those who fear God need not be afraid of anything!
Facing Fear & Trusting God: More Resources for Teens
You don’t have to have all the answers.
But, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
General posts about facing fear and trusting God:
- Indestructible Faith: How to Toughen Up For Hard Times
- How to Build Rock-Solid Faith When God Stirs the Coals
- No Fear: The Danger of Sin in Your Heart: This one puts into perspective how all our fears compare to something we really should be afraid of
- No Fear of the New Year: God Holds Your Future