Scripture Folios
I Was Afraid
Genesis 3:10 “I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” Chapter Related Genesis 28:16–17 When Jacob woke up, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was unaware of it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!” Chapter Related Exodus 20:18–20 When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance. “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” “Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.” Chapter Related Isaiah 6:5 Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.” Chapter Related Luke 5:8–10 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.” For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.” Chapter Related Matthew 17:6–7 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror. Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.” Chapter Related
For I Am with You
Genesis 15:1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Chapter Related Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Chapter Related Psalm 23:4 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. Chapter Related Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread? Chapter Related Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Chapter Related Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the Lord says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!” Chapter Related
Do Not Be Afraid
Matthew 14:26–27 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” Chapter Related Mark 5:36 But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.” Chapter Related Matthew 28:10 “Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.” Chapter Related Acts 27:23–24 For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’ Chapter Related Revelation 1:17–18 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.” Chapter Related
Only He Should Be Feared
Isaiah 8:12–13 “Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread. The Lord of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.” Chapter Related Luke 12:4–7 I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Chapter Related Mark 4:40–41 “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?” Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Chapter Related Psalm 56:3–4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Chapter Related Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is set securely on high. Chapter Related
The Lord Confides in Those Who Fear Him
Psalm 25:14 The Lord confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them. Chapter Related Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord , and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Chapter Related Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. Chapter Related Psalm 130:4 But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared. Chapter Related Proverbs 14:26–27 He who fears the Lord is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. Chapter Related Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit. Chapter Related
Perfect Love Drives Out Fear
Hebrews 2:14–15 Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy 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. Chapter Related Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Chapter Related 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. Chapter Related 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. Chapter Related Revelation 15:4 “Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.” Chapter Related
The first time anyone in the Bible is afraid, it is Adam: “I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” The first time God says “Do not be afraid,” it is to Abram, and the reason is not that nothing will go wrong but who is there: “I am your shield.” Those words come more than a hundred times, and the reason is nearly always the same. I am with you. I have called you by your name; you are Mine. It is I. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” Yet the Bible never simply takes fear away. At Sinai Moses tells the trembling people, “Do not be afraid,” and in the same breath says God has come “so that the fear of Him may be before you.” Isaiah is told not to fear what everyone fears; only the Lord should be feared. Jesus says both in one passage: fear Him, and do not be afraid, for you are worth more than many sparrows. When he stills the storm and asks, “Why are you so afraid?” the disciples are overwhelmed with a larger fear: “Who is this?” Peter says, “Go away from me, Lord,” and on the mountain the disciples fall facedown until Jesus touches them: “Get up. Do not be afraid.” This fear draws near. The Lord confides in those who fear him, and with him there is forgiveness, so that he may be feared. What Christ ends is the other fear, a lifelong slavery to the fear of death, and perfect love drives it out. The fear left at the end is worship: “Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?”