We all have fears sometimes, but it is what we choose to do with it that counts. The Bible tells us that God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). So, when fear comes, we need to use that power and sound mind to remind ourselves that there is nothing to fear because God is with us and on our sides. There is nothing and no one greater than He is, and nothing can harm us unless He allows it. And even then, knowing that he is a good God, he has a good reason for allowing something that we see as fearful.

The Bible shows us characters who, even though they loved the Lord and had great faith in Him and His ability, still had times of fear. But most times, they were able to turn it around and trust God despite that fear.

Elijah

The Bible’s account of Elijah gives us the idea that Elijah knew God, he knew what God was capable of, and he had faith in that. However, when Jezebel wanted to murder him, he ran for his life in fear (1 Kings 19:1-8). In that moment, did he forget what God was capable of and what happened to his faith? Elijah, just like all of us, had a time of feeling that fear. But Elijah was able to hear God’s voice, put aside the fear and be obedient.

David

Many Psalms reflect David’s fear in the struggles he had to bear (Psalm 31:13; Psalm 13:1; Psalm 22:1). David often asked God if he had forsaken him. But the Bible speaks of David as being a man after God’s own heart. David knew God, and he loved God. The Bible shows that David had a genuine joy for the things of God. This did not mean that fear did not come, but David was often able to turn it around and trust God. Psalm 27 shows how David faced that fear by trusting God.

John the Baptist

The Bible tells us that John baptized Jesus, and from his proclamation, it appears as if he recognized Jesus as the Messiah he was waiting for (John 1:19-28). However, later when John was imprisoned, the Bible tells us that he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one. This seemed confusing. Did John have doubts that Jesus was the Messiah? At this point, he was in prison, and they wanted to execute him. So it is easy to imagine how the doubts set in, and fear chased away his faith. Perhaps that’s what John was going through (Luke 7:18-22). He had a fear that maybe he had made a mistake and Jesus was not the one he was waiting for. John’s life was dedicated to this calling. He lived in the wilderness, and his main task was to spread the news preparing the way for Jesus (Mark 1:1-8). But at this moment, he was about to die; he had a fear that casts doubts. But we know that Jesus sent a message for John telling him of the many miracles that he performed, and so John would have recognized this as the sign of the Messiah. And given this, we have hope that in his last moments alive, he reverted to trusting God that this was the Messiah and that he had done his very best to prepare the way for Him.

So let this be a reminder that when fear comes, we need to take an example from characters like these and despite the fear, trust God. Let us not let fear chase way our faith. He is the only one we should ever fear.