What Does Faith Over Fear Really Mean?

The phrase “faith over fear” is a preferred Christian saying that reflects a typical sentiment present in biblical teachings. It conveys the concept faith in God needs to be stronger and more influential in an individual’s life than fear or anxiety. It encourages believers to trust God and His guarantees relatively than succumbing to fear or doubt.

One of probably the most incredible and galvanizing passages in Scripture for believers is the story of when the Apostle Peter walked on the surface of the ocean toward Jesus during a storm in Matthew 14. In some ways, it’s the “scary story” of the gospels because (not less than in my mind) it looks like it could have began with the classic introduction, “It was a dark and stormy night.” The author records the events like this:

And within the fourth watch of the night he got here to them, walking on the ocean. But when the disciples saw him walking on the ocean, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and so they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it’s I. Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:25-27, ESV).

This story is, in fact, primarily concerning the divinity of Jesus Christ. As easy because it is to criticize Peter for his lapse in faith at the tip of the story, this amazing passage gives us a glimpse into what is feasible after we also place confidence in the face of fear.

Faith Over Fear Bible Verses

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

Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 23:4 – Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I’ll fear no evil, for you might be with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 56:3-4 – When I’m 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?

Proverbs 29:25 – The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts within the Lord is protected.

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not because the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither allow them to be afraid.

What Is Fear?

We have all heard the phrase, “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” However, I believe everyone knows what it’s wish to fear something or someone legitimately. Fear is our mind’s response to a perceived threat, and it is available in all sizes and shapes and affects people in alternative ways.

It might just cause stress in our bodies, or it’d leave us breathless in panic. Because it causes reactions, fear even sells! That’s why there are haunted houses, scary movies, and why kids tell scary bedtime stories.

In general, though, fear is a God-given feeling that motivates us to either advance and fight, turn and run away, or shrink down and conceal. Different situations may elicit a number of of those responses from us.

There are times that a healthy response of fear can assist us and keep us protected or alive, but other times fear can paralyze us and put us in a worse or much more dangerous position than we were already in.

According to one study, a number of the commonest fears are of spiders and snakes, of heights and flying, of dogs, of being humiliated in front of others, of germs or dirt, and of storms.

You could probably sum up all of those fears right into a couple of general categories like fear of the unknown or fear of harm. Whether we wish to admit it or not, everyone fears something. 

The irony of many sorts of fears (including those we just mentioned), is that they’re normally not based on reality.

For example, while the bite from certain sorts of spiders or snakes might be dangerous, the probabilities of it being fatal is incredibly low; regardless that many persons are afraid of flying, it’s rather more common to get in a automobile crash; and although many individuals obsessively wash their hands, staying away from all germs would actually be bad for our health, not good.

Nevertheless, some situations (similar to the one which Peter found himself in as his boat was tossed around on the waves) are absolutely dangerous, and responding in fear is comprehensible.

How Can Our Faith Overcome Our Fear?

As I explained in one other article, the religion and trust now we have in God is predicated on what’s “unseen and untouched” and is a “conviction of several layers of beliefs.”

That signifies that while we’d fear something that we will see or sense in front of us, our faith is in something that we cannot see or sense in a physical way.

This is what the creator of Hebrews meant when he wrote, “Now faith is the reassurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, ESV).

Notice back in Matthew 14 that Jesus didn’t chastise Peter or the opposite disciples for being terrified of the tumultuous storm or the darkness (or pondering that Jesus was a ghost!); he chastised them for not having enough faith to beat their fear.

So, having faith in God’s provision or protection doesn’t mean that it eliminates our fear. Nor is it blind acceptance of something you’ve got not considered or know nothing about — that’s blissful ignorance.

It will not be saying you suspect something that you just’re not actually acting on — that’s hypocrisy. And faith over fear will not be making decisions with none doubts or concerns of the outcomes — that’s carelessness or foolishness.

Instead, having faith over fear involves considering the situation, weighing the choices, and understanding the danger but then making the alternative to fight through the fear and trust God anyway. It means pushing our fear to the side and replacing it with faith.

Often, this involves an motion (similar to when Peter literally and physically takes a couple of steps on top of the water), but other times it is so simple as a mental state or inward decision to interchange our anxiety with peace by “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving [letting] your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:5-7).

Faith over fear signifies that we still take part in the things we value even when there’s potential danger because we imagine it’s definitely worth the risk. For example, those that highly value corporate worship still gather with fellow believers within the midst of fear of persecution, discomfort, and even sickness (similar to the Covid pandemic).

Faith over fear is continuous to read Scripture or prayer in public, no matter potential legal motion or physical harm (similar to Daniel in Daniel 6 or the Finnish politician Paivi Räsänen 

that was recently within the news).

Faith over fear is continuous to take your kids to church services, regardless that you understand an unbelieving spouse will verbally abuse you. It is believing the Bible’s account of Creation and the Fall while being berated by atheistic classmates in college.

There are many more models in Scripture of this idea of getting faith that overcomes our fear that we will learn from. In fact, the encouragement from God to “fear not” is probably the most common statements from the mouth of God!

For example, Moses still went to confront the Pharaoh despite his great fear and excuses. Joshua and the Israelites still marched around Jericho and faced other nations in battle despite their fear of larger and more equipped armies. Esther still approached her king regardless that she knew she could die for it.

What Does This Mean?

Today, probably the most wonderful opportunities that now we have to exercise our faith over fear as Christians is to “draw near [to God] with a real heart in full assurance of religion” regardless that God is the fearful, holy judge who is not going to even look on our sin because “our hearts [are] sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22, ESV). Because of Jesus Christ, we will have our faith move aside our fear.

So allow us to not be individuals who “pull away and are destroyed;” allow us to be “those that have faith and preserve [our] souls” (Hebrews 10:39, ESV).

For further reading:

How Is God Not the Author of Fear?

Why We Truly Don’t Need to Fear This World

What Does it Mean ‘Fear Not for I Am with You’?

Why Can it Be Hard to Hear ‘Just Have Faith’?

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Koldunova_Anna

Robert Hampshire is a pastor, teacher, author, and leader. He has been married to Rebecca since 2008 and has 4 children: Brooklyn, Bryson, Abram, and Aubrey. Robert attended North Greenville University in South Carolina for his undergraduate and Liberty University in Virginia for his Masters. He has served as a worship pastor, youth pastor, family pastor, church planter, and Pastor of Worship and Discipleship. He now serves at  Calvary Baptist Church in Florence, South Carolina. He furthers his ministry through his blog site, Faithful Thinking, and YouTube channel. His life goal is to serve God and His Church by reaching the lost with the gospel, making devoted disciples, equipping and empowering others to go further of their faith and calling, and leading a culture of multiplication for the glory of God. Find out more about him here.