The full text of this flyer tract is shown below in the NASB version. (Do you want to print this tract in a different version than the one listed? Contact us and let us know what you're looking for—we may be able to create the alternate version for you at no charge.)

First of all, fear is real. We mustn’t deny or ignore the emotion, even though the reasons may be rational or irrational. Unhealthy fear causes a lack of peace and steals our joy in our lives and often affects others you love. It’s difficult to live this way.

God understands and feels your pain and wants to help you overcome it. Overcoming, however, starts with a self-awareness to define fear and understand the cause. There is healing in the revealing, not the concealing.

Once understood, we can then take steps to overcome it. Fear is a term that describes an emotional response in reaction to something that may be dangerous or threatening. Even a phobia, although it’s an irrational fear to some situation, activity, or object, often leads to a panic attack even when there is no real danger.

We all fear something, based on a need that may not be met: the fear of rejection (the need to be accepted), the fear of failure (the need to succeed), the fear of emotional discomfort (the need to feel emotionally comfortable), and the fear of being wrong (the need to be right). In addition, there is the fear of failing health, abandonment, and not finding Mr. or Mrs. Right. There is fear in not finding your true calling in life, which is a strong sense of purpose or vocation that gives meaning and direction. To add to the pain of these fears, you may also have no one there to support you through them, meaning you to have to deal with it all on your own.

Each of these fears can cause panic, anxiety, and worry. Forces beyond your control seem to be driving you into an unmet need leading to this physical or emotional pain. While people often think of fear as an emotional response, physical responses are also involved, such as:

• Increased heart rate
• Faster breathing or shortness of breath
• Butterflies or digestive changes
• Sweating and chills
• Trembling muscles
• The inability to make simple decisions

This F.E.A.R. may not be based on truth (False Evidence Appearing Real) or it may be (Factual Evidence Actually Real). Whatever the case, feelings are real and need to be validated before eradicated. Don’t suppress or express them, but confess them to God and, if necessary, to a trusted friend.

Some fear is okay, however, because it keeps us from danger. It is beneficial as it alerts an individual to a perceived threat, such as the knowledge of fire on the condition of the skin. At the same time, some is not, such as not trying from the fear of making a mistake and its effects on yourself, how others view you, and the criticism that follows.

Fear as mentioned above is influenced by changes in our mood and/or our behavior resulting from different influencers. It’s important that we understand them to begin the healing. What are those influencers?

Character weaknesses (procrastination, not being prepared/organized)

Health issues (tiredness, sleep deprivation, illness in the mind and body)

Alteration in life (transition: moving, marriage, parenting, career changes)

Not trusting God when life doesn’t make sense (doubting)

Great expectations not being met in relationships (feelings of hopelessness)

Emotional Trauma (betrayal, abuse, infidelity, past failures, loss)

Security is threatened (protected, provided for, and guided; an unmet need for acceptance and belonging)

All of these factors create a sense of instability in our thinking and feeling. If not dealt with, they can become strong attitudes that in turn affect our actions (habits) towards ourselves, others, and God. Left untreated, they lead to anger, which needs to be pacified to be rectified. This is where abuse to ourselves (condemnation) and others (retribution) ensues. What is the answer? We must “nip it in the bud” before it blossoms into something bad, but how?

Fear not only stifles your peace and joy, but it also leaves you with a lack of purpose in life. This feeling of failure that you’ll never achieve your goals or have the opportunity to prove yourself leads one to become hope-challenged. Life seems out of control. What is necessary to keep the hope alive until you can thrive again?

God’s Answer

Is there any way to get on top of the waves instead of being overcome by them and drowning in the sea of despair and futility? Yes. It is primarily found in this amazing promise from the One who has never dealt with (or will deal with) a problem He couldn’t solve. Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT) says:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Isn’t this wonderful to know that God HIMSELF will be with you through the trials so that you can grow through what you go through? Romans 5:3-5 (NIV) says: “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Someday God will take your test and turn it into a testimony and your misery into a ministry.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Cor 1:3-4, NIV).

Please remember, there is never a time that we should lose hope and become depressed, because God is both all-powerful and caring. These are two very important theological points to remember. Why? Because if God is all-powerful, but doesn’t care to get involved, then how does this solve the problem? In the same way, if God cares, but doesn’t have the power to change things, then what good is his concern? You see, God is unchanging and therefore there is never a reason to feel in despair. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” As long as a merciful God is on the throne, then there is always hope. Will His position ever change? Never!

Your view of God determines your hope

If you think that God is indifferent or incapable, how will that help to get you through the problem? If you want to increase your TRUST (Total Reliance Upon the Scripture’s/Savior’s Truth), you must study and believe God’s word! Fear often is a lack of trust in God. To know God is to trust Him (Psalm 9:10).

Many try to manage fear through a combination of medical interventions, mindfulness techniques, or talk therapy. There are benefits to these methods. The Bible, however, has a lot to say about overcoming fear. It not only gives us the truth to follow, but also the power to follow it from a life surrendered to Him! This is real freedom.

A Healthy F.E.A.R.

How do we strengthen this solid truth in God once we know that He is with us? What will it take to overcome my fears that keep me from being the best child that God created all for His glory? First, we must have the right kind of fear—a healthy one. “His salvation is very near those who fear him, so that glory may dwell in our land” (Psalm 85:9, CSB).

The Whole Duty of Man                                                                                                      

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecc 12:13, KJV). “The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love” (Psalm 147:11, NIV). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov 9:10, NIV).

Here is a list of that kind of healthy F.E.A.R. that God delights in and how to develop it. In which of these areas can you grow?

First seek God (Matt 6:33)—“Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law. Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live on the land” (Deut 31:12-13). “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16, NIV).

Examine the word and world of God—His special and general revelation—“When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die’” (Exo 20:18-19, NIV). “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse” (Rom 1:20, ESV). Spend time in the great outdoors. Read science occasionally. Go on long vacations in the wild. Also meditate and recite the Word of God (See Psalm 119:105).

Apply your heart to understanding— “...turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding...then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Prov 2:2,5, NIV).

Recognize the wrath of God—“There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom 3:18, ESV). “For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:30-31). God’s patience is lasting, but not everlasting, meaning someday the day of consequences are coming. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).

Strong hatred towards sin—“To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech” (Proverbs 8:13, NIV). “But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell” (Mat 5:22, NLT). Be kind to one another (Eph 4:32).

So you see, overcome fear by being overcome by the right kind of fear. We need to replace the bad fear with the good kind—a bad habit with a good habit. This can only come by a heart change. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment” (1 John 4:18). What kind of punishment? John 3:35-36 says, “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (NIV). “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt 25:46; see also Matt 25:41; Rev 20:10).

How does one avoid God’s wrath of everlasting punishment? By surrendering your life to Him. Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (NIV). Call on Him now and the peace of God will come into your heart.

Prayer makes a difference

Don’t worry. In the end, everything will turn out okay, if you love God (Rom 8:28). If things are not okay, then it is not the end. “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6,7). Run into your Father’s arms. He is waiting.

For the Christian, this life is the worse it will ever get—i.e. heaven is coming and it only gets better! If you’re not a believer, than this life is the best it will ever get (no matter how bad it may be)—“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27, KJV). “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15, NIV). Are you in the book? If you are, you have nothing to fear. If you are not, you have EVERYTHING to fear. It’s your choice. It starts, however, with humbling yourself before Him. Don’t wait. Do it now. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom 10:13). Pray to God now and ask Him to forgive yours sins and to come into your life (Rom 10:9).

Love Like Jesus,

Tom Tofilon

Pastor/Author of Praying to God our Father

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