Note: I had meant to post this ages ago as a follow up from the last post (see here), but I’ve been going through some especially hard weeks and it hasn’t happened before now. But I still wanted to share it as one of the things I did to help myself speak truth into my fears as I walked through my brother’s illness, and battled fear in my own illness, because speaking the truth of God’s Word into our suffering is so important and powerful. I put this beside my bed where I can see it and remind myself of these promises.

1. He is our Creator and Redeemer

“But now thus says the Lord , he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

2. He is always with us

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you… Fear not, for I am with you…” Isaiah 43:2‭, ‬5a

3. We are His

“But now thus says the Lord , he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:14.

4. He will strengthen, help, and uphold us in whatever He calls us to walk through

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

5. He goes before us

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” John 10:4

6. He knows our needs and promises to provide

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:30‭-‬33

7. He gives His peace that passes all understanding

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6‭-‬7

8. Fear and anxiety are not from God

“For God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

9. What trials and losses we suffer here are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is coming for us

“and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:17‭-‬18

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17‭-‬18

10. He is our Heavenly Father and we are His children

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” Romans 8:15‭-‬16

11. He promises to take care of us

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1

12. He delivers us from all our fears

“I sought the Lord , and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

13. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18

14. He loves us eternally, relentlessly, unconditionally, and unfailingly

“The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Jeremiah 31:3

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35‭, ‬38‭-‬39

15. He is our God and worthy of our trust

“But I trust in you, O Lord ; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!” Psalms 31:14‭-‬15

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” Psalms 56:3‭-‬4

16. He keeps and protects us

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Psalms 91:11

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” Job 1:10

“The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.” Psalms 121:5

17. He is bigger and mightier than anything we face

“The floods have lifted up, O Lord , the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!” Psalm 93:3‭-‬4

18. He is on our side

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Psalms 118:6

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us.” Romans 8:31

19. He fights for us

“Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes,” Deuteronomy 1:29‭-‬30

“You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.” Deuteronomy 3:22

20. He holds our hand

“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13

21. He directs our paths

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6

22. He knows us perfectly and intimately

“O Lord , you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:1‭-‬3

23. He is in full control

“Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.” Job 1:9‭-‬12

24. He’s coming back soon (Heaven is coming)!! 😄

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1‭-‬3

Bonus: 25. Christ conquered fear at the cross!

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

I encourage you to pull out your Bible and some paper and fill up a page or more with promises that speak into a specific struggle that you might have. Then put it somewhere where you can easily see it. We’ve got to be speaking truth into our suffering every day and resting our hearts on Christ, the Gospel, and His promises. When things are hard and scary in the realm of things seen and when nothing in our lives makes sense, let’s fix our eyes on what is unseen.

With love, ❤

Caitlin