When Fear Creeps In: Learning to Anchor My Heart in God’s Peace
A reflection on fear, trust, and the comfort of Scripture
Fear.
Not just anxiety.
Not just stress.
Not just a passing moment of nervousness.
But fear—deep, gripping fear—has, at times, been the overriding emotion in my life.
Fear has shaped my decisions, my silence, my words, and my hesitations.
It has caused me to step into things I shouldn’t have—and to back away from things I was called to.
It’s insidious.
It creeps in slowly, slyly—until I suddenly realize it has overtaken me.
And the truth is, fear takes many forms.
Sometimes it’s the fear of death.
Sometimes it’s the fear of failure.
Sometimes it’s the fear of what others will think or how they’ll respond.
Sometimes it’s the fear of the unknown—and sometimes, it’s the fear of what I know all too well.
But ultimately, it’s not the source of fear that matters most.
It’s what we do with it.
Fear Is a Natural Response—Until It Isn’t
Fear, in its truest form, is a God-given emotion.
It’s the internal alarm system that sounds when danger—real or perceived—is near.
Fear can protect us. It’s a necessary survival mechanism.
But when fear becomes chronic, when it shifts from helpful caution to anxious obsession, when it starts whispering what ifs and worst-case scenarios—it becomes bondage.
And that’s not what God intends for us.
Fear is not meant to be a prison.
So what do we do when fear shows up and refuses to leave quietly?
When I’m Afraid, I Turn to Truth
There are several Scripture passages I return to again and again when fear starts to take over. These verses have anchored me in some of the darkest and most uncertain moments of my life—reminding me that God is present, that He is trustworthy, and that I am never alone.
1. I turn to God.
“Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7
When my husband was battling cancer in 2000, this verse became a lifeline. The little chorus “Cast all your cares upon Him” played on repeat in my heart. It reminded me that the same God who had cared for me before would continue to do so—faithfully, tenderly, completely.
2. I focus on the solution, not the storm.
In Matthew 14, Jesus calls Peter to step out of the boat and walk toward Him on the water. Peter obeys—but then he looks at the wind and becomes afraid. He starts to sink.
“Lord, save me!” he cries. And Jesus immediately reaches out and catches him.
The moment Peter shifted his focus from Jesus to the storm, fear took over. I try to remember that when my mind begins to spiral. The solution is always found by looking to Christ—not the chaos.
3. I stop borrowing trouble.
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.” — Matthew 6:34
Fear loves to live in the future. It thrives on hypotheticals. But God invites me to stay in today. To deal with what’s in front of me and trust Him to handle tomorrow.
4. I fix my thoughts on God.
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” — Isaiah 26:3
When I notice my thoughts spiraling into fear, I gently bring them back to God. His character. His promises. His presence. Peace doesn’t come from having all the answers—it comes from knowing Who holds the outcome.
5. I pray. Really pray.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…” — Philippians 4:6–7
There’s something powerful about bringing fear into the light of prayer. It’s not about saying all the right words—it’s about opening my heart and letting God meet me there. Peace follows—not always immediately, not always easily—but it comes.
6. I return to my refuge.
“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’” — Psalm 91:2
When fear presses in, I remind myself that I have a refuge. I have a hiding place. I have a God who defends, shelters, and strengthens me—no matter what the storm looks like.
Learning to Live Free
I wish I could say that I’ve mastered the art of living without fear. I haven’t.
But I am learning.
I’m learning to notice when fear starts to rise.
I’m learning to turn my heart back toward truth.
I’m learning that even when fear shows up, it doesn’t get to stay in charge.
God never asked me to be fearless.
He just asked me to trust Him more than the fear.
So today, if fear is creeping in—whispering its lies, tightening its grip—remember this:
You are not alone.
You are not powerless.
And you are not without peace.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”
(Psalm 27:1)
Run with Patience 
Sandy; this is all most excellent and true. It cannot be taken out of context with the rest of Scripture to the point of “let go and let God” type of attitude. To “walk in the spirit” is a directive which indicates that we are responsible to take action; even though this action necessarily has to be empowered by the Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” is indicative of our having the responsibility to take certain actions in response to the gospel of truth in the light of humble reverence for the Almighty God, our Father. Yet, sometimes I am overcome by all the Scriptural requirements of our walk with Christ…until I remember that it is not about my strength, it is all about His might and power and about my submitting my will to His and staying “connected to the Vine” and allowing Him to be the reason for; the goal of; the culmination of all I do, think, or say.
Matthew 6:34 is immediately preceeded by “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness….” For me this is a daily task, one which I need His help even to do this.
Thanks for your post…it really set my mind to thinking.
Robert
As a believer who has suffered from PAD (Panic Attack Disorder) all of her life, I fully appreciate and applaud this entry.
What has helped me through these trials is the ever increasing personal knowledge and experience of God’s very real love for me as demonstrated, not only directly by Him to me, but also through my husband’s unconditional, patient and ardent love for me through the years. This has become a firm foundation in which all my insecurities have met their doom.
The love of God is so very strong and powerful. It tears down our insecurities, our worries, and our fears. As I’ve learned to allow God to fill me with that love, it has enabled me to walk through times of panic with courage and surity that I am forever in the hands and heart of my heavenly Father.
In this, I can do all things in Christ, who strengthens me.
Sandy, thank-you so much for sharing your hard earned lessons through blogging. May others find your words of encouragement and wisdom to be the confirmation of the Father’s love that deliver’s them from all fears.
Blessings,
robin
Robert
Yes, there is a fine line between casting our cares on God and carrying out our personal responsibilities. This, to me, is the difference between carrying the knapsack God has asked me to carry alone and carrying the boulder I am to share (Galatians). The worrying about how everything is going to turn out belongs to God but we have to put actions to our responsibilities.
Again, you are very right in saying it’s not to be done in our strength but in His!
“The love of God is so very strong and powerful. It tears down our insecurities, our worries, and our fears. As I’ve learned to allow God to fill me with that love, it has enabled me to walk through times of panic with courage and surity that I am forever in the hands and heart of my heavenly Father.”
Yes, Robin – exactly.
Thanks so much for dropping by! 🙂