WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT FEAR? ABOUT WORRIES AND ANXIETIES? DON’T DO IT. DON’T HAVE THEM. The Bible continually says to fear not.
Though we know we are to not worry and that we are to cast our cares on the Lord, how many actually do it? This isn’t because we aren’t willing to but because WE DON’T KNOW HOW; and we don’t actually think we CAN do it. We thing worry is a necessary part of life.
But why did God tell us so many times not to fear, not to have anxieties or worries? Because fears, anxieties and worries steal our life and health, and He knew that in this world these things would be a constant temptation. He told us not to worry not just to give us another thing to have to do but because He actually cares for us.
Worry, fear, stress – these are things we are not designed to carry, things that will kill our bodies over time. So it would benefit us greatly to learn how to do what God says to do and then to actually DO IT.
1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified) – Casting the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all you concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
Phillips – You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern.
Living Bible – Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.
In the Bible, we are told not to worry and many, many times we are told to “fear not.” Here is a link to a document listing over 50 of these instances not including the ones telling us not to worry or be anxious. How many times does God have to tell us something before we actually do it?
Thank God the Bible doesn’t just tell us WHAT to do; but also teaches us HOW TO do it.
The key here to successfully getting your cares to stay on Him lies in the end of the verse, “because He cares for you.” If you don’t know how much He actually cares for you, you can’t rest and trust in Him and let go of you cares, and they will keep coming back. As some of the translations say, “He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully,” “You are His personal concern,” “He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.” These kinds of thoughts are the cure to worry, anxiety and fear.
Throughout His Word, God doesn’t just tell us not to fear; He always gives us reasons to not fear. He says such things as, “fear not, FOR I am with you,” fear not, FOR I will help you,” “fear not, FOR I will never leave your nor forsake you.” Take a look at these Fear not scriptures and look for reasons not to fear.
These kinds of thoughts on why not to fear are actually the cure for fear thoughts. It is the reality and awareness of His love, care and present help that pushes out the fear; it is not just trying to stop being afraid and striving to stop worrying. These thoughts and feelings must be replaced at the very depth of your beliefs with the knowledge that He actually does care about you, is with you and will take care of you.
Casting your cares on the Lord involves a trading of your present anxious thoughts with thoughts of Him, of His love, His care, His character and His sure promises. But it is at more than a superficial level. You must replace the thoughts at the level of your heart. That sometimes takes time in the presence of the Lord going over His Words, telling yourself what is true, putting His Word in place of your worry. Taking the time to replace your thoughts and renew your mind to His love and care is not as hard as struggling to believe and make your cares stay on Him – year after year after year, until you finally just give up.
Take hold of Him and focus your mind on Him. This will force the cares out. You can get rid of cares by taking the time, effort and concentration to enter His presence through praise and worship and letting your mind focus on Him and His good promises rather than the problems you are tempted to worry about.
Knowing and believing His perfect love for you will displace the fear. It will push it out and replace it. As it says in the Amplified Bible, perfect, complete love will turn fear out the door and expel every trace of terror.
1 John 4:16-18 – We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love… There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but full grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels ever trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment and he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love.
Psalms 56:3-4 – What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?
I place my life and all my concerns in the Lord’s hands and TRUST in Him that He will bring to pass what is best for me. He loves me and delights in my well-being and prosperity. He longs for things to be well with me. And if I leave everything in His hands and trust Him, He will see to it that they are and that I am equipped with all I need to serve Him fruitfully, victoriously and successfully. I will pass every pressure, every problem, every disappointment, every concern, every anger or bitterness onto Him and not let anything of that sort stay any longer.
Then I will live a life of trust and peace that passes understanding and the Lord will be free to work things out for me.