By Rachael Adams

I asked Rachael Adams if she would consider writing a post for Possess His Promises. She graciously wrote this important post. May you push past fear in order to pursue your purpose.

I googled “the top ten fears” and found people are most fearful of spiders, snakes, heights, dogs, thunder, enclosed spaces, injections, flying, germs, and social situations. Which of these are you afraid of? I’m scared of seven out of the ten! Of course, these ten aren’t the only things people are afraid of. In fact, psychologists have identified more than 200 fears!

Fear is a common part of the human experience but it doesn’t have to prevail. Take a look at these biblical examples of people who feared yet decided to push past their fear and pursue God’s plan.

Moses was afraid to confront Pharaoh but gained courage because God promised His presence. In turn, Moses’ bravery freed the Jews from slavery (Exodus 3).

Gideon was afraid of the Midianites but when he finally put his trust in God and obeyed, the Israelites were freed from seven years of oppression (Judges 8). 

David was afraid of King Saul but he had courage because of the countless times God had protected him from danger in the past. As a result, his life was spared, and he became part of the genealogy of Christ (1 Samuel 17).

Esther was afraid because Haman planned to annihilate the Jews. Through prayer and fasting, God gave her the courage to plead with King Xerxes to protect her people. Her faithful sacrifice resulted in the saving of an entire people group (Esther 4).

Daniel was afraid of being thrown into a den of lions as punishment for standing on his convictions. God protected his life, and his act of bravery inspired King Darius to command all nations to revere God (Daniel 6).

There are numerous other biblical accounts of those who faced frightening situations—angry mobs, floods, famines, lions, storms, and shipwrecks. If they hadn’t trusted God’s promised presence, power, and protection, they wouldn’t have fulfilled their purpose in their generation, and the familiar Bible stories we read would have ended much differently.

The same is at stake for us when we hide and cower in fear—we risk failing to fulfill the purpose we were created for. Regardless of the reason you fear, the remedy is the same: turn to God. He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1), and Jesus promises to be with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Therefore, we do not have a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7), all of which are present in us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Friend, there is so much in this world to make us afraid, but there is so much more in our biblical faith to make us brave. May we not fall victim to fear because of lack of knowledge about God’s promises or lack of faith to believe those promises are true. God’s promises and purposes are waiting for you on the other side of fear.