Lia Elizabeth

“Have you ever been afraid?” 

Of course you have. We all have.

As kids, fear often showed up at bedtime. We were afraid of the dark corners of our rooms, of shadows on the wall, of monsters hiding under the bed. We pulled the covers a little tighter and hoped morning would come quickly. Fear felt big then, even if the reasons now seem small.

As we got older, fear didn’t disappear, but it just changed its shape. Maybe we were afraid to start a new job, wondering if we were good enough or if we’d fit in. Maybe we were afraid to go on a first date, to be vulnerable, to risk rejection. Maybe we were afraid of failing, afraid of disappointing someone, or afraid of stepping into the unknown. Fear grows up with us.

And today, fear feels louder than ever. We live in a world where scary headlines, alarming videos, and worst-case scenarios are just a scroll away. Social media and the news can make it feel like danger is everywhere, like the world is constantly on the brink. Even when nothing is directly happening in our own small corner of town, fear has a way of finding us. It is right there on our phones, in our quiet moments, in our thoughts late at night.

But here’s the thing: fear is not new. People have always been afraid. And that’s why one message shows up again and again in the Bible. Do not be afraid.

Depending on how you count, Scripture tells us some version of “do not fear” hundreds of times. God knew fear would be a constant struggle for His people. He knew we would worry about tomorrow, about our safety, or about whether things would turn out okay. And over and over, He reminds us that fear does not get the final word.

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.”

“Do not be anxious about anything.”

These aren’t empty words or unrealistic expectations. They are promises. God doesn’t tell us not to be afraid because life is easy. He tells us not to be afraid because He is present. Fear may knock, but it doesn’t have to take up residence in our hearts.

Being brave doesn’t mean we never feel fear. It means we choose faith even when fear is loud. It means we remember who holds tomorrow when today feels uncertain. It means we turn down the volume of the world and tune in to the steady, reassuring voice of God.

So yes, we have all been afraid. And we probably will be again. But we don’t have to stay there. In a world full of reasons to fear, we can choose to trust. We can choose peace. We can choose to believe that God is bigger than whatever scares us, and that, in the end, makes all the difference.