Gentle Reminders When You Feel Overwhelmed by Fear
Fear is part of being human, but we don’t have to face it by ourselves. In this post, let’s reflect on how faith can calm our hearts during fearful moments and help us overcome whatever is making us afraid.
HEALING GRACES & REFLECTIONS
Sheri Anne Maximille Cabañes-Madayag
11/24/20255 min read
Boo! 👻😨😱
It’s been a few weeks since Halloween, when the streets were filled with scary decorations and people roamed around in their spooky costumes.
While the scary season of the year has passed, we still have feelings of fear most days of the year. In this blog post, we’ll reflect on fear and how our faith can help us overcome it.
Inside these reflections:
When Fear Feels Overwhelming
Fear, as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary, is an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.
Fear is a normal human emotion. We all felt afraid at some point in our lives. Whether it’s uncertainty about the future, health concerns, financial burdens, or anything that we believe is completely out of our control, our feelings of fear are real and valid. If you're feeling afraid now, know that you're not alone.
I remember as a kid, I was afraid of the dark, ghosts, and many other things that I now find funny. As I become an adult, my fears have evolved–from graduating in college, to passing the nursing board exams, to getting a job, and so on. Now that I am a mom, my fears are often related to the health, safety, and future of my family.
When the fear becomes too overwhelming, we can feel helpless and paralyzed. I felt overwhelmed by fear during the COVID-19 pandemic when I was still working as a nurse. The fear of getting infected, or worse, dying from the disease, was too much for me. Each day was a difficult battle I had to fight. One thing that helped keep me fighting through the fear was clinging to my faith.
God’s Promises For When You Feel Afraid
No one is immune to fear, even people of faith. Just like the disciples who feared the storm, forgetting that Jesus was with them in the boat. As stated in Mark 4:37-41:
A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Sometimes, we try to face our fears on our own, and we tend to forget that God is greater than all our fears. God does not want us to carry our worries alone. When everything feels scary and uncertain, our faith in God is a strong foundation we can hold on to.
The bible contains verses reminding us we don't have to face our fears alone. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us that God is with us when we are afraid, “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
Being afraid does not mean a lack of faith. Fear is part of being human. God wants us to come closer and bring our fears to Him. He does not promise an easy life, but He assures us that He will be with us and will give us strength.
The Power of Prayer
Now that we know that God will be with us through our fears, how do we call upon Him? The simple answer is to pray. A prayer is always the best way to communicate with God. No phones or internet connection required–just a faithful heart willing to talk honestly to God.
Prayer does not need to be long or to have the perfect words. It only has to come from our hearts. Through prayer, we connect with God and put our trust in Him despite fear and uncertainty. When I feel really scared or anxious about anything, I breathe deeply and close my eyes. I say a silent prayer, like, “Lord, please help me.”
My fears and my problems don’t go away immediately. But praying reminds me that God is in control and He is bigger than my fears. A few moments after praying, I would find myself feeling calm and having more courage to face my fears.
Philippians 4:6-7 serves as a beautiful reminder of the power of prayer when we feel scared: “Do not worry 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.”
Most of the time, a simple prayer can help us calm our nerves, clear our thoughts, and find a new perspective. There are also other ways to hold onto our faith when fear kicks in:
Read the bible. Before checking our phone, which adds to our worries, take a few minutes to read and reflect on a bible verse. Let God’s truth and promises fill our minds and hearts.
Practice gratitude. Thanking God for our blessings shifts our focus away from fearful and anxious thoughts. Realizing how God blesses us serves as a reminder of His unconditional love.
Connect with others. While we can always talk to God through prayers, it is always good to share our feelings with the people we trust. We don’t have to face our fears alone. Connecting with others can give us a fresh perspective and encouragement.
Praying, combined with the methods mentioned above, can be a powerful weapon when we feel afraid. These ways may not completely take the fear or worries away, but they remind us to run close to God, who is always greater than our fears.
Gentle Reminders: Faith Over Fear
It’s normal and human to feel afraid when things are beyond our control. Overcoming fear does not happen overnight. It’s a choice we make to remain faithful to God. Every. Single. Time.
Our fears are real and valid. But we don’t have to face them alone. We have a God bigger than whatever is making us afraid. Let us lift our fears to God through prayer. He will always be with us through our fears.
Leaving this verse from Psalm 56:3 as a gentle reminder to always trust God, even when we are afraid: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
What ways have helped you overcome your fears? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Feel free to reach out through my contact page.
