11 Common Fears and the Bible Verses We Can Use to Fight Them

Welcome to Girls to Grow! We’re moving right through this first week of October with a bit of gloomy weather here. However, I’m certainly enjoying the slightly cooler morning temperatures when I head out for my walk.

I have a question for you today.

What are you afraid of?

Our world is full of all kinds of fears. There are general fears – Covid, political unrest, violence in some communities – and there are fears that are specific to you and your situation.

We know that God doesn’t want us to live in fear (2 Timothy 1:7). But sometimes the problems of life and uncertainties about the future try to steal the peace that God wants us to have.

Dwelling on Scripture is one way we can overcome our fears.  Below I’ve listed some fears that we likely all face from time to time along with Bible verses that offer comfort in these areas.

1.  Not parenting well. 

“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.”  ~Proverbs 29:17 

We all want to be good parents. But we also all fail at times. What a gift that God’s grace is enough for all our mistakes!

If we show our children we love them and consistently correct and train them according to Biblical principles, we can look forward to a time when they will, as the verse says, bring delight to our souls.

2.  Getting old.  

“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”  ~ Isaiah 46:4

Once we hit a certain age, there’s a natural tendency to think about what will happen to us in our later years. Will we lose our health? At what point will our spouse or other close family members face health challenges or pass away?

The same God that brings us to old age will walk with us in those years, too. I love that the word “carry” is used twice in this verse. It’s comforting to think of God carrying us through our later years especially since our natural strength will likely be diminished. In our weakness and frailty, He will carry us.

3.  Having unmet needs.  

“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”  ~Psalm 37:25

God knows our needs. Matthew 6:33 tells us that as we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, He will meet our physical needs. Yet He also meets our spiritual and emotional needs. He sees us where we are and will never forsake us.

4.  Prolonged illness. 

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”  ~Isaiah 40:29

Losing our health is something we can be afraid of. Whether it’s a sickness that lasts for weeks or a disability that lasts for years, we don’t like the thought of not being able to control our bodies like we want to.

Yet God can give us the strength to live with the health difficulties that come into our life. His grace is sufficient for every struggle we face.

5.  Financial difficulties. 

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  ~Philippians 4:19

Few people have so much money that they are immune to financial struggles. When we do have some savings or wealth built up, it can lead us to trust in ourselves and our own abilities instead of God.

This verse reminds us that God will supply our needs. He has all of the available resources to do so.

6.  Inadequacy.  

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”   ~II Corinthians 12:9

We can feel inadequate as a spouse, a parent, a supervisor, an employee, a friend… the list goes on. But as we rely on God, He can give us the strength and ability to do whatever we’re called to do in any area of life. We are not adequate or sufficient in ourselves, but He is. We are completely adequate to do the job as He works through us.

7.  Being physically unsafe. 

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.”  ~Proverbs 21:31

Also, “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” ~Psalm 121:7-8

Thankfully I haven’t been in many situations where I feared for my physical safety, but I know it’s a fear for some. We should take precautions to protect ourselves, but this verse tells us that the Lord is the one Who keeps us safe. His eye is always on us.

8.  Failure. 

“If God be for us, who can be against us?”  ~Romans 8:31 

Also, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”  ~I Thessalonians 4:24 

I’m sure we’ve all failed at something in our lives…and likely more than one “something!” Yet through failure we learn more about ourselves. It’s often through the lessons learned from a failure that we find success. And we can trust that when God calls us to a certain task, He will help us complete it.

9.  Being alone. 

“….for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”  ~Hebrews 13:5

Yes, we may go through seasons where, in a human sense, we’re alone. Or even in the midst of people, we can still feel like we’re alone. But God, who is faithful always, has said that He will never leave us.

10.  Uncertain future.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  ~Jeremiah 29:11

At different times in our lives we will face an uncertain future. Maybe we’ve lost a job and don’t know what’s next. Perhaps we’re waiting on a medical diagnosis or to see how a relationship goes. We don’t have to be afraid because God knows our next step. We can trust Him to unfold His plan in a way that is best for us.

11.  Death. 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me….”  ~Psalm 23:4

Even in death, the ultimate transition, we don’t need to be afraid. God is with us. When our time here on earth is done and God calls us to Heaven, He will give us grace in that moment.

No matter what your fear is, God can overcome it.  “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”  ~Psalm 34:4.

What Bible verse do you turn to when you’re afraid? Let us know in the comments below.

Related posts:

• 6 Steps for How to Pray When We’re Anxious or Afraid
• 10 Things We Can Know About God’s Goodness
• Is Your Faith Little or Great?