Overcoming Anxiety and Fear

Through the Fearless One

This article on overcoming anxiety is an introduction to "Matters of the Heart," our free eCourse for spiritual growth and emotional transformation.

Seeing through to the Root Issues

Overcoming anxiety begins with understanding it— seeing it for what it really is. Full victory over anxiety comes through learning to trust our God—seeing Him for who He really is. Jesus is the Fearless One who has overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. He wants to live His way of life in us (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27). It is our confidence in Him and in the Perfect Love of the Father whom He reveals which enables us to also become overcoming ones and live valiant lives, trusting our God, even in situations of great peril (1 John 5:4).

Anxiety and fear grow from the same root. Anxiety is characterized by general feelings of uneasiness or worry about what might happen, or feeling powerless and unable to cope. Ordinary fear is usually more focused upon specific things, people or situations. Anxiety, by contrast, feels like it's a part of our personality and indeed we may need to receive healing for past trauma in order to be fully released from it (see Mending the Broken Heart). Nevertheless, anxiety has this root in common with fear: it is not trusting God. And that also is something that we can work on.

There are by some counts 365 commands in the Bible not to be in fear. Fear and anxiety are actually spiritual issues, not personality problems. And that is good news, because it means our God has already given us what we need to deal with them. Consider this progression to help you understand the reality behind feelings of fear.

1) Fear is the opposite of love.

Scripture states that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18-19); the reverse is also true - "perfect" fear casts out love.

2) Fear is little faith or no faith.

Jesus upbraided the disciples for being short on faith when they became afraid over concern for their daily needs and during the storm at sea (Matthew 6:25-34; Mark 4:35-40).

3) Fear is the opposite of faith.

Fear works in the same way faith does, only in reverse (Hebrews 11:1). Faith looks past the problem, sees the Invisible God, trusts Him and therefore becomes the substance in us that God uses to fulfill His purposes. Fear looks at the visible problem, ignores the Invisible Savior and becomes a substance the enemy uses to work against us.

4) Fear is spiritual blindness.

It keeps us from seeing with our "eyes" of faith. It minimizes what God can do and magnifies the enemy's work (Numbers 13:30-33).

5) Fear is actually a sin.

Fear compounds the natural problem by bringing in a spiritual one - unbelief and distrust in God over what is taking place (Romans 14:23).

6) Fear is spiritual bondage.

It enslaves us and carries us captive to the enemy's mindset and emotional control (Romans 8:15).

7) Fear comes from an evil spirit.

God says He has not given us a "spirit of fear" (2 Timothy 1:7). Nevertheless, He stands ready to help us get free of their influence.

We may have some hard work cut out for us, but overcoming anxiety and fear is possible through Jesus Christ, the Fearless One, who is also our Prince of Peace. He truly has a peace to give us that can become a river of life for even the most timid of His children—provided they are willing to learn to fight the good fight of faith (see Fear Not!and Overcoming Fear).

Learning to trust God and His Word helps us to overcome fear!

Interested in Going Deeper?

Consider taking our free eCourse for Healing.We have designed a complete series for personal transformation, "Matters of the Heart," to help Christians gain emotional freedom and inner healing. In all there are 24 Main Healing Lessons and 24 Head to Heart Guides to help you bring your heart to God and receive His Great Heart for you in return!