Do Not Fear:
Viewing God’s Command as an Invitation to Freedom
by Tristany Corgan
Heart racing. Hands shaking. Head fogging. Stomach fluttering. It’s getting hard to breathe.
What is the cause of these symptoms? Perhaps it is an interruption in my daily schedule. It could be that something has gone wrong that I don’t know how to fix. It might be an important task that I don’t want to mess up. Or maybe it is a reason that I cannot identify.
As someone who has struggled with anxiety for many years, these feelings have become a regular occurrence in my life. Fear is one of my greatest foes, always showing up uninvited and never leaving when I want it to do so. I try to fight against fear by thinking through every possible outcome and preparing myself for anything that might happen. Despite my efforts, fear always comes creeping back into my life.
It’s always been hard for me when I read Bible passages that say “Do not fear” or “Do not be anxious,” because my symptoms seem unstoppable. I never want to live in disobedience to my Lord, but I simply don’t know how not to fear, how not to be anxious. Perhaps you’ve felt this same way.
Maybe it’s time to start thinking about that little phrase “Do not fear” differently. We often think of it as a command, as an instruction—something that we have to do. While it’s true that “Do not fear” is a command from the Lord, solely viewing it this way may actually cause us to dread it—to feel like we can never truly have victory over fear. Instead, let’s think of it as a call, an invitation—something that we are privileged to do.
When God calls us to forsake fear, he is inviting us to four things.
An Invitation to Rest
One result of fear and anxiety in my life is a lack of quality sleep. When I start feeling anxious about something that’s happening the next day, I cannot fall asleep for the life of me. Then, after I am finally able to drift off, I wake up earlier than necessary, and I can’t go back to sleep. Fear causes my mind to go into hyperdrive, making it unable to shut down. This lack of sleep, of course, leaves me feeling weary, exhausted, and unprepared for whatever event I’m about to face.
When God calls us to “fear not,” he is inviting us to rest. Jesus declares in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We can cast our fears and burdens on the Lord (see 1 Peter 5:7). He has always dealt bountifully with his people (see Psalm 116:7), and he promises to provide for all our needs (see Philippians 4:19). God is our Shepherd. He loves us and cares for us so that we will lack nothing (see Psalm 23:1). When we rest in him, we are like a tree planted by water that does not fear heat or drought because it knows all of its needs will be met (see Jeremiah 17:8). When we abandon fear, we can finally lie down and sleep sweetly (see Proverbs 3:24).
An Invitation to Peace
When I begin stressing or freaking out about something, I often experience a panicky, jittery feeling in my chest. Though I’m typically a calm, level-headed person, stress and anxiety make me scatter-brained, causing me to fear that my efforts will fall short.
When we abandon fear, we can finally lie down and sleep sweetly.
When God calls us to “fear not,” he is inviting us to peace. During his time on earth, Jesus promised his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). In him, we are kept in perfect peace (see Isaiah 26:3) and our hearts are ruled by peace (see Colossians 3:15). How is this possible? God is our Helper who is always on our side. Nothing can destroy us or ruin us, so we have no real reason to fear (see Psalm 118:6; Hebrews 13:6). Whenever we start feeling fearful, anxious, jittery, or panicked, we can pray to God and he will guard our hearts and minds with a peace that surpasses understanding (see Philippians 4:6–7).
An Invitation to Trust
I once heard a pastor say that when something causes us to fear, we’re probably not trusting God. When I heard this, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head. I’ve always believed that anxiety is part of who I am—something that I can’t change. (And let’s be honest, I still tell myself this sometimes!) But the pastor’s words made me take a step back, look at what I was fearing, and ask myself, Am I trusting God in this situation?
When God calls us to “fear not,” he is inviting us to trust. The Lord is our light, our salvation, and our stronghold (see Psalm 27:1). He strengthens us, helps us, and upholds us with his righteous right hand (see Isaiah 41:10). He is with us and he comforts us, even in the darkest times of our lives (see Psalm 23:4). We serve a God who can always be trusted. When we trust in him, he keeps us safe (see Proverbs 29:25). When we trust in him, he guides us on the right path (see Proverbs 3:5–6). When we trust in him, we don’t have to fear bad news (see Psalm 112:7). Instead, we can declare with the psalmist, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3).
An Invitation to Courage
Because of my struggles with fear and anxiety, I’ve always been hesitant to step out of my comfort zone and do something new. To try a new food. To learn a new skill. To dive off a cliff. To jump out of a plane. To share the gospel with a stranger. I would love nothing more than to stay in the solitude of my little comfort zone. Why? Because of fear. Fear of change. Fear of discomfort. Fear of pain. Fear of rejection.
We serve a God who can always be trusted.
When God calls us to “fear not,” he is inviting us to have courage. This command is frequently accompanied by a call to “be strong and courageous” (see Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9). We are able to have courage because God is with us, he goes before us, and he never leaves us (see Deuteronomy 31:8). God tells us in his Word, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” (Isaiah 43:1–2). We have no need to fear man because the Lord fights for us (see Deuteronomy 3:22). We have no need to fear the world because he is our refuge, our strength, and a very present help in trouble (see Psalm 46:1–2). So we can boldly and confidently live in obedience to him and be faithful to spread the gospel. After all, God has gifted us with a spirit of power, love, and self-control, not a spirit of fear (see 2 Timothy 1:7).
Do Not Fear
Maybe you’re a little like me. You’ve dealt with fears and anxieties for years, and it seems like those worries and feelings will never go away. You’ve read “do not fear” time and time again in God’s Word, and it seems like it’s a command that’s impossible to keep. You’ve dreaded opening up your Bible and have become apathetic in your obedience of it.
Maybe it’s time to rethink how you view the command to “fear not.” It’s not just an instruction; it’s an invitation. An invitation to rest. An invitation to peace. An invitation to trust. An invitation to courage. Our God does not have any desire to make our lives harder; he is our Father in heaven who loves us, shows mercy to us, and wants what is best for us. Living in fear is unhealthy and unhelpful. But having rest, peace, trust, and courage will grow us spiritually and make our lives and relationships more fruitful and more fulfilling. It’s time for us to fear not and praise the Lord.
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:3–4).
Tristany Corgan is a writer, book lover, and theology nerd who is passionate about seeing women come to know and love God’s Word. tristanycorgan.com @tristanycorgan
Scripture quotation is from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
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