Finding Freedom from Fear: A Christian Counselor’s Personal Story

Fear is an essential survival mechanism that elicits both physical and emotional reactions. When you sense a threat, fear is protective. However, fear can be overwhelming if it is out of balance and out of proportion to the risks. Maintaining psychological balance requires an understanding of the nature of fear and practical coping strategies.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind – 2 Tim. 1:7, NKJV

My Journey Into Fear

Personally, I spent years living in fear. As a child, I was afraid of the dark. Fear followed me into adulthood, marriage, moving to a bigger city, then motherhood, and my home. Although I loved God and trusted Him, I couldn’t seem to silence the constant “what ifs” that stole my peace.

One thing that magnified my fears was the news. As long as I can remember, I’ve noticed a trend on the news and then eventually on social media: fear.

There is always something on the news or happening in the world that could make us fearful: wars, pandemics, health issues, job insecurity, the health and welfare of our children, other anxieties and phobias, etc. I got sucked into the news after 9/11. So, in 2020, after the news of the pandemic, I had to stop watching or reading the news.

I had faith; I believed in God, and deep down I knew He would protect us. But I couldn’t shake that grip that fear had on me. I would pray over our house, walk around and pray over our property, etc., but nothing seemed to help the fear subside.

I had trouble sleeping because of my fears of someone breaking into our home. I bought a little picture of an angel guarding a child’s bed and every night began to recite the passage that was printed on it: Psalm 4:8, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

I had been reading The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian and read the chapter on fear, not just for my daughter, but for me. It was pretty humbling. I tried to read other books on fear, but they all dealt with things such as stage fright, asking for a raise, etc. Those are still real and debilitating fears, but I felt like I was the only person who was fearing for my life.

A Prisoner of Fear

Looking back, I realize I was truly a prisoner to my own mind and emotions. On top of the fear, I was dealing with so many other “issues.” God began to slowly peel away at those issues one by one, but it truly took faith to overcome the fear.

Neil T. Anderson (2017) reminds us, “Fear is a God-given natural response when our physical or psychological safety is threatened. Fear always has an object, that is something or someone, and that object must be both present and potent, that is perceived to have some power over us. It ceases to be a fear object when only one of those attributes is eliminated” (p. 28).

He goes on to explain, The fear of people, death, and Satan is the root of almost all fears. Death is still present since it is a real possibility, but once we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, it is no longer powerful (1 Cor. 15:54-55).

Although fear is a normal human reaction, sometimes anxiety and fear become more than occasional worry. I realize that, for some individuals, anxiety can involve biological, psychological, and environmental factors that require additional support. But for now, I am talking mostly about fear that is out of balance and has no real threat.

In counseling, we often talk about how our thoughts influence our emotions and behaviors. Fear thrives on repeated messages of danger, while faith grows when we intentionally focus on truth. Another perspective that helped me was understanding fear as misplaced faith – placing belief in what might go wrong rather than in God’s promises.

Looking back, I can see how fear grew stronger when I repeatedly focused on threatening information. The more I watched the news and imagined worst-case scenarios, the more my mind became trained to anticipate danger.

The Nature of Fear

As a counselor, I have seen how anxiety can affect even the strongest believers. Experiencing anxiety does not mean someone lacks faith, nor does seeking counseling, medical care, or medication indicate spiritual weakness.

God often works through the wisdom, support, and resources He provides through others. Just as we seek treatment for physical illnesses, there are times when receiving professional support for our mental and emotional well-being is an important part of healing.

One resource God used during my journey was a small booklet called Freedom From Fear. While I don’t believe one book is the answer for everyone, God used its biblical perspective to help me recognize how fear had shaped my thinking. For some reason, reading it made that little lightbulb in my brain turn on. I had that “Aha” moment.

“There are two spiritual laws at work in the world today: the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the law of sin and death. The force of faith comes from life. The force of fear comes from death” (back cover). In the booklet, the law of reciprocals (“corresponding, but reversed or inverted” principles) is discussed in Romans 8:2: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Understanding that fear is just faith perverted (by Satan) opened my eyes. Satan is “limited to the forces of the world.” He cannot create or come up with new ideas. He just perverts the spiritual laws that are already in place. “Sin was not a new law. It was righteousness perverted. Death was life perverted. Hate was love perverted. Fear was faith perverted (pg. 5).”

In the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve sinned, the first words Adam spoke to God were, “I was afraid” (Genesis 3:10). The enemy is here to steal, kill, and destroy. So, he took the faith that Adam had, and it was turned to fear. I love where it’s explained, “The counterfeit never is as powerful as the real thing” (pg. 7). Therefore, we know that when we put faith to work, “it will always overcome fear.”

The Complexity of Anxiety and Fear

As I reflect on those years, I also recognize that fear and anxiety can be complex. While my journey involved learning to trust God more deeply and renew my mind with His Word, I realize that not everyone experiences fear in the same way.

Some people have lived through traumatic events, loss, abuse, or other painful experiences that leave their nervous system on high alert. Others struggle with anxiety disorders, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, or other mental health concerns that involve biological, emotional, and environmental factors.

Practical Steps When Fear Feels Overwhelming

• Identify the fearful thought.
• Ask whether there is evidence of an actual present danger.
• Compare that thought with God’s truth in Scripture.
• Pray honestly about your fears.
• Pray specific and related scriptures out loud (I will list some below).
• Reach out to trusted believers or a counselor when fear becomes persistent or overwhelming.
• Limit media that continually fuels fear.
• Remember that courage often means moving forward while still feeling afraid.

For me, freedom came through prayer, Scripture, renewing my mind through books and other resources, and learning to trust God’s promises. For others, that journey may also include counseling, support groups, trauma work, medical care, or a combination of these resources. God can use all of these tools as part of His healing process.

But in our everyday Christian walk, we have to walk by faith. In doing so, we have to know the Word of God and stand on its principles. We have to know that Satan is under our feet because of what Jesus has done for us. As believers, we are free from every part of the curse.

So, why do we allow him to pull us around on strings of fear, worry, anxiety, depression, etc.? Yes, we are physical beings and will have physical problems, but God is bigger than any of our problems, and He has put other people – professionals – here on earth to help us walk through some of the pains of life.

Even though we know these truths, many of us still wrestle with fear, worry, anxiety, and discouragement. Sometimes these struggles are connected to painful experiences, ingrained thought patterns, or circumstances beyond our control. Yet God’s promises remain true. He meets us in our struggles and patiently helps us grow in faith as we learn to trust Him more fully.

For believers, Scripture is the foundation for confronting fear – both the fears rooted in reality and the ones shaped by our thoughts and emotions. God can also place different resources in our paths to help us confront fear and work through the layered process of renewing the mind. We can’t just stop at reading the Scripture; we have to believe it and apply it.

James 1:22 tells us, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.” We have to speak the Word and believe what we are saying. When we speak His promises, we must remember the authority that we have through Jesus and speak it with confidence, not with hesitation.

As believers, we must take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5). Then, we must renew our minds with the Word of God (Rom. 12:2). I will share some of my favorite passages below. 365 references in the Bible say or address, “Do not fear.” Or as one of our friends says, “One ‘Do not fear’ for every day of the year!” (I love that!)

After I read Freedom from Fear, I knew that things were beginning to change in my thought life, but it wasn’t until a women’s retreat (my first retreat with my church) that I truly became free and broke off the chains of fear. I had gone to get away, enjoy myself, and, of course, for the great teaching I would receive, but I didn’t realize it would be life-changing.

I went away still battling fear, but returned home freed from the hurts, bitterness, worry, and the rest of the lies the enemy had been telling me at that time.

Fear once dictated many of my decisions, stole my peace, and kept me awake at night. Today, I still face circumstances that could make me fearful, but I no longer live under fear’s control. Freedom did not come overnight; it came through renewing my mind with God’s Word, learning to trust Him more deeply, and choosing faith one step at a time.

Anderson (2017) says, “Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is choosing to live by faith and doing what is right in the face of perceived fear-objects. Behind every irrational fear is a lie, which must be identified. Ask the Lord to reveal to your mind the nature of your fears and the irrational lies that compel them” (2017, p. 28).

If fear has become a constant companion in your life, know that you are not alone. Whether through prayer, Scripture, counseling, supportive relationships, or a combination of these resources, healing is possible. The Lord is for you. And because He is for you, fear does not have to have the final word.

As I’ve shared, freedom from fear did not happen overnight for me. It was a process of learning to recognize fearful thoughts, replacing them with truth, and choosing – sometimes moment by moment – to trust God. Healing often works the same way. It may involve different resources that God provides. While the journey looks different for each person, we can take comfort in knowing that God walks with us through every step.

Bible Verses to Ponder

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Though war arises against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. – Psalm 27:1-3, NKJV

The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? – Psalm 118:6, NASB

Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear (reverence) only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. so do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. – Matthew 10:28, 30-31, NLT

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil –  and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. – Hebrews 2:14-15, NIV

Seeking support is not a sign of weak faith. God often works through the wisdom, support, and resources He provides through others. Please give our reception team a call and schedule an appointment.