A Prayer for Courage When Fear Surrounds Us
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Listen or Read Below:
Fear has weighed heavily on me for the past few years. I was never an easily scared person, but living in an unsafe city for many years has caused this fear and anxiety to develop. Maybe you feel the same way. If you are experiencing fear, whatever the reason may be, know that the Lord is with you. He will protect you and give you the courage you need.
Even if you don't feel it, God is with you and He will strike down every evil attack (Isaiah 41:10). I have seen it in my own life, and I trust He can do the same in your life, too. We should never underestimate God’s help in our lives. In truth, we might never know on this side of Heaven how much He has helped us get through. Trust in Him even when the fear is overwhelming.
There will be times when you will have no choice but to be by yourself, and these are the times that can invoke the most fear. Whenever we start having paralyzing fear, we need to consult the Lord, rather than letting the fear fester in our hearts. We can then surrender this fear at the foot of the cross. Pray that the Lord will help you overcome this fear and bless you with the peace that only He can provide (Philippians 4:6-7).
God is greater than all things, and He can give us the courage that we need. God doesn't want us to walk haphazardly into situations, but He also doesn't want us to live our lives in constant fear. He will protect us and keep us safe, even when doubts arise in our hearts (Psalm 121:7-8). There is much evil in the world, but we never need to discount the power and work of God on the earth.
The Bible tells us, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). These are the words of Moses to the people of Israel. He is encouraging Israel with these words, yet he is also encouraging us. We need to be strong and courageous because the Lord is with us and He goes before us.
Moreover, God will never leave us or forsake us. Rather than being afraid or terrified of the people in this world or what this world will bring into our lives, we need to find hope in the Lord. When courage comes into the picture, fear flees. Allow God to help you build up courage in your life and take hold of the wonderful future He has for you (Jeremiah 29:11).
There will continue to be times of immense fear in our lives, but we can overcome them with God's help. Pray over every fearful matter and trust God with each situation. Even if a situation feels insurmountable, know that all things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26). God can transform the scariest of situations and ensure they become nothing but a leaf blowing in the wind.
Let's Pray:
Dear God,
Fear surrounds me on every side. Everything in my life feels uncertain, and I'm afraid. Thank You for reminding me that I can always turn to You and that I can seek out Your protection. Please help me to be strong and courageous, and to leave fear in the past. Remind my heart of Your steadfast love and Your constant protection. You will never leave me, nor forsake me, and I praise You, Lord. Thank You for always being here for me and giving me the courage that I need to live a full life. Please help me overcome the fear that controls my life.
Bless me with the true freedom that is found in Your Name. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Orla
Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate.
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