How to Overcome Fear Through Jesus Christ

Lift up your head and rejoice! We have permission from Jesus to not fear and be happy. It is not necessary to fear and be overly concerned about things. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV says,

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

When I first read this it was inspiring to me, and it was a personal answer to my prayers and concerns. It was what I needed because I tend to worry a lot. This scripture helped me to see that there is so much in life that we simply don’t need to be concerned about, or worry about. Jesus says to us “peace be still” (Mark 4:39 NKJV) and also, “be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10 KNJV).

A powerful example from the Holy Bible that has helped me is the account of Christ’s apostles who were on a ship in the Sea of Galilee when a great storm arose. Jesus was asleep in the bottom of the ship. The apostles fearfully came and awoke the Lord saying, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38 NKJV). Christ arose and rebuked the storm saying, “Peace be still.” His reply to the apostles was, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:38-39).

On another occasion the apostle Peter saw the Savior walking on troubled waters. Peter desired to walk out to the Savior. The Savior said to come. Through his trust in the Lord, Peter stepped on the water and began walking on the water towards the Savior. As he began walking, he took his focus off of the Savior and “when he saw [a]that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:30-31 NKJV).

The key here is that Peter took his focus off of Jesus and began to fear. When I focus too much on the seeming wind and waves of fears and anxiety, I feel more unsteady and begin to feel as if I’m sinking. When I put my focus and center back on Jesus Christ, and trust Him, I don’t need to fear the “storms” because I’ll get through them with His help. He calms my personal inward storms.

Sometimes I feel like Peter. When I keep my focus on Jesus Christ and hope in Him, things are more manageable. When I start paying too much attention to fears in or around me or too much on worries, the future, the past, etc., there is more fear and uneasiness. Remembering to keep my focus on the Lord and His power and redeeming grace and is so important for internal peace – peace that helps calm the internal storms and uneasiness.

When I settle my thoughts on the Lord’s words, thoughts of His power, peace, strength, and desire for me to be happy, then the storms become calm. It also may be that the storm is still there for a while, but I’m able to deal with the storm and have peace during the storm because I put my focus on and trust in Jesus. I know He is there to support me and you. “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). It is true.