10 Bible Verses for Fighting Fear

By Shannon Leibold

The most often repeated command in the Bible is this: “Do not fear.” God instructs us not to be afraid, not because there aren’t very real things to be scared of in this world, but because He’s calling us to faith in Him. Fear is a natural response to dangerous and unknown situations. But sometimes fear can become a default lens that negatively colours how we see the world. God wants us to trust in Him, and as we do, fear loses its influence in our lives. When our faith increases, our fear decreases. 

When you fear is threatening to consume you, turn to these 10 Bible passages for fighting fear. 

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS 

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 

Moses has died and the mantle of leadership has passed to Joshua. Joshua is preparing to lead the people into the promised land, where there are very real dangers. We know that Joshua was shaking a little in his sandals because in this passage, God repeats, “Be strong and courageous.” God promises the best provision Joshua could hope for – His presence. We too can be strong and courageous in the face of fear because God is with us. He equips us for the tasks He calls us to, and His presence will go before us. 

I WILL FEAR NO EVIL 

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Life sometimes takes us through dark valleys, and as one difficult day leads to the next, we wonder if we will ever come out the other side. In this well-loved psalm, David declared that even in the darkest of circumstances, he would fear no evil – not because there was no evil to fear, but because God’s presence was a comfort to him. 

OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID? 

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When God is our light, our salvation, and our stronghold, we really have no reason to fear anything else. We serve an all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present God, who is completely sovereign over the entire universe and entirely good. Even when He allows difficult season in our lives, He is working to bend it towards our good and His glory. We can trust Him. 

HE DELIVERED ME FROM MY FEARS 

Psalm 34:4-8

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.This poor man cried, and he Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

God is able to deliver us from all our fears. As we walk with Him, we see His faithfulness again and again, and our fears diminish. Even in the midst of adversity, our faces transform from wide-eyed fear to radiant with joy. God sends His angels to encamp around His kids. Isn’t He so good?! 

GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND OUR STRENGTH 

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 

When trouble comes knocking – and it will – God is our very present help. When life shakes, and the ground beneath us threatens to give way – and it will – God is our refuge and strength. We stand on a firm foundation when life is crumbling, and He is able to rescue us or shelter us in the midst of the storm. We need not fear. 

WHEN I’M AFRAID, I TRUST IN YOU 

Psalm 56:3-4

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

This is our first response when we are afraid: trust God. When our faith is in God alone, trusting His presence, provision and protection, fear dwindles. We need to decide to fix our gaze on Jesus instead of the scary situation. Then we realize we are safe in His arms. 

THE RIGHTEOUS WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN 

Psalm 112:6-8

For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

Sometimes our imaginations run wild with all the fearful things that could happen. Our fear of bad news can take us down some pretty dark paths. But when we trust in the Lord, our hearts are steadfast. Fear no longer causes us to tremble. We don’t fear the future because nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

DO NOT FEAR; I AM WITH YOU 

Isaiah 41:8-10

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

In the first part of the book, Isaiah prophesied doom and gloom for the nation of Israel as a consequence for their sin. He begged them to turn to God in repentance. Then in the second part of the book, Isaiah reassured God’s people of God’s comfort, even in the midst of calamity. The presence of God is the greatest antidote to fear. He has chosen us, He is with us, He will strengthen us, and He promises to help us. The God of the universe holds us by His righteous right hand. 

YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY ARE YOU AFRAID? 

Matthew 8:23-27

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

The disciples found themselves in the middle of a great storm. Although experienced fishermen, they feared for their lives. But Jesus was asleep in the boat, unphased by the wind and waves. When they shook Him awake, Jesus rebuked them for their fear. He reminded them that fear is evidence of little faith. You see, fear and faith are opposites. Fear must flee in the presence of faith. We serve a God who controls the wind and the waves. 

DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED 

John 14:25-27

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Peace is a Person. When Jesus left this world, He left behind peace in the form of the Spirit. His peace is vastly different than the peace the world offers. Because we have access to divine peace, we need not let our hearts be troubled or afraid. Even in the midst of difficulty, peace can reign in our hearts. 

A Prayer for Fighting Fear

Father, we confess that sometimes we are afraid. But we are confident that you are always with us. Let faith replace fear in our hearts as we trust in You. Amen.