How to Face Fear Without Running Away
“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”
Whatever situation you are facing today, there is a natural human instinct that kicks in when we feel threatened. We want to run. One meaning of the word fear is indeed “to take flight.” We see this impulse as far back as the Garden of Eden, where shame and guilt produced fear, causing Adam and Eve to hide from the presence of the Lord among the trees. We see it in the advisors of the Psalmist who told him to “flee like a bird to your mountain” when the foundations seemed to be crumbling.
But the command “fear not” in Scripture is often a command to stay put. It is a call to stand your ground. When we say “fear not,” in a very real sense, we are saying, “Do not run away from what frightens you.”
Consider the words of the Psalmist in our text today. He tells us that those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. Mountains are symbols of stability, endurance, and permanence. They cannot be moved. Just as the mountains surround the city of Jerusalem to protect it, God surrounds His people. This implies that while the wicked may threaten us, they cannot ultimately overcome those who are held secure by God.
When we are tempted to run, we must remember that faith and fear cannot dwell together in the same heart, for one will eventually destroy the other. Fear blinds our eyes to the presence of the Lord, while faith opens them to see Him. We see this vividly in the life of Moses. When the Israelites were trapped at the Red Sea, terrified of the approaching Egyptian army, Moses did not tell them to run. He said, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today”. By faith they stood still, and by faith they saw God fight for them.
You do not have to face your fears in your own strength. In fact, God often allows us to reach the end of our own resources so that we learn not to rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. When the Apostle Paul faced deadly peril in Asia, he felt the sentence of death in himself to teach him this very lesson of dependence. The Lord is with you. When the disciples were terrified in the storm, Jesus came to them walking on the water and said, “It is I; do not be afraid”. That phrase “It is I” recalls the divine name of God; it is the Great I AM who is with you in the boat.
So, move forward with a grateful assurance in Him. Nehemiah, when rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, faced enemies who wanted to frighten him so that his hands would drop from the work. He refused to run. He prayed for strength and met the opposition head-on. Every man or woman who has ever been given the opportunity to do something great has had to face fear.
What will you do when you are tempted to be afraid? Will you run, or will you stand firm? The Apostle Paul urges us to “stand firm in the faith” and be men and women of courage. We can do this because we know that God is near. He is an ever-present help in trouble. Whatever the situation is, face it. Do not try to hide from it. Just meet it head-on, and be thankful that God is with you.
Prayer:
Lord God, You are my rock and my fortress. When I am tempted to flee from my problems, please help me to stand firm like Mount Zion. Thank You that I do not have to rely on my own strength, but can rest in the knowledge that You surround me and fight for me. Drive out my fear with Your perfect love, and give me the courage to face today with faith. Amen.