I recently wrote a Facebook post about how fear is always wrong. There’s no good reason to ever let it into my life.
But resisting fear is hard. And when I find myself filled with it, I feel like a failure.
So, now what? How do I get out of fear once I’m there?
Replace Guilt with Grace
The first thing I do when I find myself in fear is to let go of the guilt and shame. I carry my fearful mind to the feet of Jesus.
I Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
The reason I can cast my anxiety, my fears, on Him is because He cares for me.
God knows the pain caused by fear and anxiety. He became human and felt the pressure that we feel. He understands why we fall into fear.
Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
And because He was tempted to fear, I know He has compassion on me. He will extend His grace and mercy to cover my failings and bring me back into right standing with Him.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Grace covers my shame and allows me to move forward in healing.
Remember Why I Don’t Need to Fear
Usually, when God tells us not to fear, He doesn’t stop there. He follows that command with reasons why we don’t need to fear.
Isaiah 41:10
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.
The main reason we don’t need to fear is because God is with us. He doesn’t tell us the things we fear aren’t scary. He tells us He’s more powerful than all the scary things.
My part is to find the scripture that covers the scary thing and meditate on it. Because I need to build my faith that God can and will take care of the situation.
If I don’t have enough money to pay my rent and I’m afraid I’ll end up homeless, His Word tells me to focus on Him and trust that He will take care of the rent.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
If my mind won’t stop obsessing on the negative thoughts and I’m afraid I’ll never be sane again, His Word tells me that He has given me a sound mind.
II Timothy 1:7 NKJV
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Fear lies to my mind. I have to fight those lies with the truth, which is God’s Word.
Receive Strength to Fight the Fear
One of the main objectives of fear is to make me weak. Because if I’m weak, the enemy can steal the Word from me. And if he can steal the Word, he can steal everything else.
Mark 4:14-15
The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
The good news is, I don’t need to be strong enough to fight the enemy. I only need enough strength to hold onto the Word. The Word will fight the enemy.
My part is taking care of the soil of my heart. But if I find myself in the middle of a fear storm, I don’t have time to go back and plow. I have to grab the Word and hold on for dear life.
Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I surround my mind with the knowledge of God’s saving grace. He loved me so much that He sent His only Son to die for me so that I could be adopted into His family. That’s my daddy.
Then I take the scriptures that I’m standing on and fill my mind with them. I’m not reciting a spell to change my circumstances, I’m reminding myself and my circumstances who’s in charge.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
When I’m overwhelmed, I fill my mind with God’s Word so that it can cut away the fear.
How does God’s Word help you let go of fear?
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God's Word For Mental Health 