How to Quiet Your Heart in Times of Fear
Photo by Hanny Naibaho
For many people, the weight of ongoing fear (a year and a half of covid) is starting to become more noticeable in their thoughts and emotions.
Is it possible to live without fear? To be truly fear-less in this season?
Yes. We know this because God says so. Multiple times in Scripture, He talks about being fearless and who we really are as His kids. One notable verse is 2 Timothy 1:7:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (NLT)
That verse is true for you, and it is true for you in this season. If you’re dealing with fear, take a deep breath and know with all your heart that God has something more powerful for you.
You are not fearful and timid—you are powerful, you love well, and you walk in strength that doesn’t turn to the right or to the left.
Here are three ideas for quieting your heart and finding peace in times of intense fear.
1. When you’re afraid, purposefully turn your attention to the Lord.
Find your delight and true pleasure in Yahweh,
and he will give you what you desire the most. (Ps. 37:4 TPT)
We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. (Heb. 12:2 TPT)
Here are some thoughts based on Psalm 37:4 and Hebrews 12:2:
Delighting yourself in the Lord helps you see Him more clearly.
Delighting in the Lord helps you know what you want. It removes confusion so you can step forward more easily.
Delighting in the Lord helps you quiet your heart.
It is better to look at God than it is to look at the natural realm.
Looking at the natural realm can produce confusion and fear, but faith comes when you look at Jesus.
Application: What does “delighting in the Lord” mean practically? How do you “do” it on a daily basis? Think about it and then put it into practice. When you start to feel afraid, remember you get to delight in God and refuse to pick up fear. Purposefully turn your attention to Him, and don’t allow fear to have a voice in your life.
2. When you’re afraid, be still with God and listen to His voice.
You will keep the mind that is dependent on You
in perfect peace,
for it is trusting in You. (Isa. 26:3 HCSB)
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isa. 41:10 NIV)
Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth. (Ps. 46:10 AMP)
Application: What is God saying to you through the verses listed here? What does your spirit know to be true—about God, about His protection, about yourself?
Write down the divine words (feelings, senses, impressions) you can hear or sense in your spirit, and go over them several times this week. Listening to God and taking His words to heart is one way you can be strong in Him (Eph. 6:10).
If you feel like you can’t connect with Him, go over the verses listed in this section and choose to believe they are true for you.
3. When you’re afraid, take time to remember what God has told you.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord;
therefore, I obey your instructions. (Ps. 119:55 NLT)
When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple. (Jon. 2:7 NIV)
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end. (Lam. 3:21–22 NRSV)
If you say in your heart, “These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?” you are not to be afraid of them; you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. (Deut. 7:17–18 NASB)
Here are a few thoughts based on these verses:
We are able to obey the Lord when we remember who He is.
We renew our hope when we remember His love and mercy.
Remembering the Lord brings life to our heart.
When we remember what God has done—both for us and for others—we are able to stand against enemies who seem greater than we are.
Application: What has the Lord told you? Set it before your eyes—that is, remember it intentionally. Get it in front of you and repeat it multiple times. Declare it as truth. Make it a part of your thoughts, and invite God to come and write it on who you are.
Does your heart need to remember who God is? Check out these other devotions:
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