25 Strengthening Verses for Times of Fear

Fear entered the world when sin did. Whether someone looks around the world and sees war, suffering, death, and pain and is afraid; whether they are going through a time when they are worried about losing something; or whether it is a temporary moment where someone feels unsafe, there are many moments of fear in someone’s life.

When someone begins a relationship with the living God, He invites and empowers them to be able to live a life without being afraid of all the evil in this world. It is not a guarantee that nothing bad will happen, but that nothing in this life compares to the weight of glory and joy of an eternity with Him. The suffering in this life that induces fear is something that Jesus overcame on the cross, and even death has no true power over those who have a relationship with Him.

Knowing that in the head does not necessarily stop all fear in the heart. That’s why the Bible is full of encouragement for Christians to not be afraid of any evil in this world, because there is a God who is with them, and will welcome them into His kingdom.

15 Verses for Times of Fear

Deuteronomy 3:16 - “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Psalm 27 - “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?...Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

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.”

Psalm 34:4 - “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 118:5-7 - “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.”

Isaiah 35:4 - “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’”

Isaiah 41:10, 13 - “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 … For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’”

Lamentations 3:55-57 - “I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’”

Matthew 6:34 - “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Luke 12:32 - “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

John 14:1-3 - “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Romans 8:12-17 - “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Philippians 4:5a-7 - “The Lord is at hand;  do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Hebrews 13:6 - “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”

1 John 4:16-18 - “ So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

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What Is the Fear of the Lord?

When looking over the Bible, it says over and over again that those who have a relationship with God do not need to fear, yet there are verses that say fear the Lord. Does this mean that God wants people to cower before Him, and only obey Him because they are afraid of Him? Not at all.

God wants to have a loving relationship with His people. To fear the Lord, in the Bible, is to have a healthy and appropriate respect for the power, holiness, and righteousness of God. It is not inappropriate, when looking at the righteousness of God and examining one’s own sinful heart, to fear His judgment. God sent Jesus so people could come before Him in love and worshipful reverence. When someone fears the Lord, and chose to follow Him, there is nothing else that can touch them. There may be pain, suffering, persecution, and death in this life, but there is eternal rejoicing.

10 Verses about Fearing the Lord

Joshua 24:14a - “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness.”

Job 28:28 - “And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Psalm 19:7-9 - “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.”

Proverbs 1:7 - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 3:7 - “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”

Proverbs 28:14 - “Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”

Matthew 10:26-33 - “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,  but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Luke 1:50 - “And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.”

Luke 12:4-5 - “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!”

2 Corinthians 7:1 - “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

The Bible is full of encouragement, extolling the believer to take heart, be of good courage, and to cast away the fear of evil in this world and this life. The eternity that God has in store for those who revere Him is so much greater.

In some respects, fearing something above God is sinful, as it elevates that thing to a place of greatness and power that should be occupied by the Lord. Do not fear the wicked, because they cannot destroy the eternal soul and condemn it. God can. Instead, go to God with humble repentance, accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and pursue a relationship with Him.

Man’s heart is weak, and there will be times of fear, but remembering that God holds eternity in His hands, and has made His forgiveness available, is more powerful than momentary fear, or even the threats of evil.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Simon Lehmann

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.