Fear wears many masks. Sometimes, it’s loud and overwhelming. Other times, it’s quiet, subtle, and almost unnoticeable — yet it can shape our lives and decisions far more than we realise. In Part 4 of our ongoing series, we looked at fear as a silent but powerful limiter of God’s move in our lives.
Two Faces of Fear
Scripture shows us that there are two distinct types of fear. The first is the fear that binds — dread, anxiety, terror. This fear cripples, paralyses, and opens the door to torment. The second is the fear that honours — reverence and awe before God. This is the kind of fear that brings wisdom and obedience (Proverbs 1:7).
The Greek word Phobos (from which we get phobia) paints fear as a strong and influential force. When we permit fear to lead, it feeds on our doubts about God and plants seeds of rebellion against His truth. At its root, fear is not just an emotion — it’s a spiritual posture of distrust in God’s power and goodness.
What Fear Does
Fear is not harmless. Scripture reveals the damage it can do:
- Fear torments (1 John 4:18). It robs peace, replaces faith with worry, and disturbs the soul.
- Fear wastes potential (Matthew 25:24–25). The servant in Jesus’ parable buried his talent out of fear — fear caused him to hide what was meant to be multiplied.
- Fear excuses laziness (Proverbs 26:13). It says, “There’s a lion in the street,” when what’s truly needed is courage and diligence.
- Fear leads to paralysis. It clouds decision-making, freezes action, and delays obedience.
- Fear is sin (Revelation 21:8). Not merely a feeling, fear is grouped with unbelief. It reflects a heart that refuses to trust God.
Heart Check
This week’s message challenged us to pause and reflect:
- What has fear stopped me from doing that God asked of me?
- In what areas has fear stunted my growth or hindered my service?
- What does it look like to act in faith instead of hiding in fear?
Final Thought
Fear is not neutral — it drains strength, silences faith, and limits God’s move in our lives. But we have a choice. When we resist fear and choose trust, we step into the boldness, clarity, and freedom that God desires for us.
May we be a people who break free from fear — not by our own strength, but by anchoring ourselves in God’s unshakeable faithfulness.
