How to Replace Your Fear With Faith

As humans, we all face fear.

But, as Christians, fear can also trigger shame and guilt. We know that God says to “fear not” throughout scripture, but how do we replace that fear with faith?

We can trust in Jesus as our anchor when we are afraid, especially during uncertain and challenging times. We need to learn to move from fear to faith. Let’s use the acronym “ANCHOR” to help us replace our fear with faith.

ANCHOR

I live on an island and see many boats. When the water gets rough, people don’t simply take their boats out of the water. They prepare the boat for the storm. One way they do this is by anchoring their boat. The anchor does not stop the rocking or the storm, but it does hold the boat in place.

Jesus does the same for us. He doesn’t stop the storm, but He holds us tightly through it. In John 16:33 (NIV), Jesus tells us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We can trust Jesus as our ANCHOR and replace our fear with faith.

Allow the Feelings

Notice Your Response

Call on Jesus

Honest Conversation

Offer Him Your Fear

Receive Peace by Reviewing Scripture

Allow the Feelings

God designed us with feelings, even fear. In order to best move from fear to faith, we have to recognize and feel the fear. You don’t have to feel it for long, but suppressing it is unhelpful.

Even Paul felt fear on his missionary journey. “When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside” (2 Corinthians 7:5, NLT).

In the article “The 90-second Cycle of an Emotion,” we read that “When a person reacts to something in their environment, there’s a 90-second chemical process that happens in the body; after that, any remaining emotional response is just the person choosing to stay in that emotional loop.”

Spend those 90 seconds recognizing what you are feeling.

Notice Your Response

Once you’ve recognized and felt your emotional response (the fear), you can examine how you are responding to it. This is actually where we get in trouble. It isn’t the fear itself but choosing to stay there.

Are you trying to control a situation that is out of your control?

Are you frozen and not moving forward?

Are you hanging on to things that God has called you away from?

What is your response to the fear? God already knows it. Do you?

Call on Jesus

Even as you are in the midst of feeling your emotions and reflecting on them, you can call on Jesus.

Ask Him to be your anchor. He will always respond.

Honest Conversation

Now, in prayer, have an honest conversation with Jesus.

Take the time to tell Him how you feel and how you’re responding to the situation. He knows, but He still loves to hear it from you.

Offer Him Your Fear

As you continue in prayer, offer up your fear to God. Give it to Him with open hands and let go of control of the situation.

Trust God to be sufficient in all of your needs. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV), “But he said to me, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Receive Peace by Reviewing Scripture

Finally, turn to scripture and continue to receive His peace. Review His promises, His character, and His faithfulness.

If you don’t already, I recommend taking some of your favorite scriptures and writing them in a journal or posting them on your mirror. Put them somewhere you will see them regularly.

If you are looking for a few verses to get you started, here are some suggestions:

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38, NLT).

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT).

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”(Isaiah 41:10, NIV).

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3, NIV).

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV).

No Fear, Just Faith

Do you remember the brand No Fear from the 1990s? It may sound good, but even as a Christian, it just isn’t how we were created.

God designed our brains to recognize danger and respond to protect us.

Fear isn’t bad, but staying there is not what God wants for us. Instead, let’s feel it and move on with the help of Jesus as our ANCHOR.