Tips for Overcoming Fear and Anxiety

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I put together these tips for overcoming fear and anxiety because I have a feeling that I am not the only one that has struggled in this area. The current state of our world and the media’s coverage of it has only added to a climate of fear. For those of us that know where to turn, there is hope and truly no reason to fear! Let’s look at this together and find some tips for overcoming fear and anxiety!

I Struggle with Fear and Worry

It’s true. I am the person whose mind immediately goes to the worst case scenario in most situations. Driving over a bridge, I imagine it collapsing. Going for a nighttime walk…I imagine wild animals jumping out to get me. Hiking with the kids…someone is bound to fall off a cliff.

If we are working outside and I hear my husband start the truck or tractor, I immediately go into panic mode and must make sure all small children are within arms reach. Of course, my husband thinks I find him to be some sort of an idiot when I go running outside with a look of panic in my eyes. I just did this the other day. He said, “I saw you running around the corner as soon as the truck started.” I want to trust that he would never run over our children…of course, he looks out for them, but that doggone fear makes me irrational!

How about the problems in our world? Does that ever creep in and make you fear? It makes me worry about the future. I want my children to grow up in a peaceful world and I fear that their future is being compromised! However, worry and fear will not change that. Prayer will.

How to Overcome Fear and Anxiety

Fear is Often Rooted in Control

I know this is true for me. I am a controlling person. There I said it! By the grace of God I have been able to let go of some of that. However, I don’t like to feel like circumstances are out of my control. I would venture to say that most people don’t. Most of us want to feel that we have things under control.

The problem is, some things are simply not in my control. However, I show my lack of trust in God when I worry and panic over things that I cannot control. What I can do is pray. I can ask God to show me what he wants me to learn through the circumstance and to please help everything to work out for good.

As I mentioned above, this also show my lack of trust in others. This is not a redeeming quality in the least!

How to Overcome the Spirit of Fear–Don’t Feed it!

Does this seem like a no-brainer? Of course it does. I don’t write this to sound condescending. You know that if you struggle with fear, your mind will do a fine job of coming up with imaginary scenarios that lead you to fear. You usually don’t need anyone telling you all of the ways that you or a loved one could get hurt or die.

So, why would you feed those fears by turning on the news? It takes very little common sense to understand that the media has an agenda and that they don’t have your best interest at heart. Recently a reporter for CNN was caught on tape admitting that “fear sells.” Remember that the next time you read something in a newspaper or hear something on TV. The media is a business selling a product…don’t buy into their lies or exaggerations and get wrapped up in their fear.

Of course the news isn’t the only place that you can feed your fear. How about parenting magazines? You can find plenty of articles stating all the ways your child could get hurt…some you may have never imagined! Just browse the aisles of a baby store. The safety section is enormous! Don’t buy into this either, don’t feed your fears.

Tips for Overcoming Fear–Not all Fear is Equal

The Bible is full of verses referring to fear. Not all fear is negative either. We should have fear of some things. God gives us a natural fear to protect us from harm. When you walk to the edge of a cliff, you have a natural God-given fear of heights, you are afraid of falling. This fear prevents you from acting silly or reckless near the edge. You have a fear of fire, knowing the damage it could cause. We even have a fear of God, which we should. It is an awe a reverence and respect, knowing that he holds the power to discipline us when we get off track. He does it out of love, but either way a spanking can hurt!

The fear we need to overcome is irrational controlling fear. The kind that steals your joy and your peace. The fear that keeps you awake at night. Fear that pulls you away from God rather than drawing you closer to him. The fear that limits you from trying for fear of failure. Or the fear that prevents you from sharing the gospel with someone that needs to hear it.

Start Your Day with Truth

How easy is it to reach for your phone first thing in the morning? Maybe you even use it for an alarm. There it is in your hands. It’s so easy to start your day by checking e-mails, social media, and the news. How much of that is really truly truth though? I can tell you from experience inside the blogging and influencer world that very little of what you see on social media is really true. Those beautiful homes are styled and staged for the purpose of photos. The photos on Social Media show you a snippet of a person’s life, usually the best parts.

We have already established that the news isn’t truth. So, why start your day looking at that?

Start with prayer and the Word of God. It’s that simple. God’s Word is absolute truth. Work on memorizing a verse a week regarding fear and what God’s word has to say about it! This will transform and renew your mind just as Romans 12:2 admonishes us to do: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

This Battle is of the Mind and Heart

This truly is a battle and it is a spiritual one. Fight this battle with God’s word…the truth. For a while, I really struggled with the fear of my husband or one of my children dying. Through prayer and the truth of God’s word, I have a handle on this. Naturally, I am not perfect, and this sneaks up on me from time to time…like when the tractor starts. However, it is much much better! Here is a truth that I have learned through God speaking to me in my spirit: Death is not the worst thing that can happen to a saved person.

What? Does that sound contrary to what we usually believe? Of course it does, but it is true. Do I want my children or husband to die? Of course not! That hasn’t changed. I want them to be here with me. However, I know that they are believers and if God chooses to take one of them home before me, that is not the worst thing that could happen to them. I trust that if He takes one of them, it is truly for their good. They will be in Heaven! Perhaps a person’s death would keep them from harm or a horrible circumstance. Maybe their death would end some sort of suffering. It could be God’s compassion on a person brings death.

How to Trust Rather than Fear

I don’t know all of the reasons why God would allow a person to die, but I know that I trust Him. Trusting God fully helps me to know that whatever happens, it is for good.

How do I trust God fully? I believe this verse, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28. It’s that simple. I trust God.

If you only memorize one verse, this one is my favorite: “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Children and Fear

Some children really struggle with fear. Out of my ten children, a couple of them have been troubled with fear. One, in particular, struggled and would frequently wake up at night with bad dreams. She was the child that wanted to be in control and was never excited to try new things. The only one that would not jump off a big rock into her daddy’s arms. She was just afraid. When she would wake up with bad dreams, we would always pray with her, then we would remind her to pray and we would give her a Bible verse to say until she was able to fall back to sleep. Usually, it was Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid I will trust in thee.” It was short and reassuring. She still remembers that.

Printable Bible Verses to Overcome Fear and Live By Faith

I hope that you can find peace in memorizing scripture to help you overcome your fear so we can say together, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

Here is a little something to help you with overcoming fear. This is a beautiful list of Bible Verses that you can work on memorizing to overcome fear. No need to sign up for anything, I want anyone who wants this to be able to have it! Just click the download button below.

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