Fear is man’s natural reaction to uncertainty. When faced with economic hardship, civil unrest, war, disease, and tyrannical governments, the mass of society tends to panic.

For example, in early 1942, fear of Japanese air raids caused terrified Americans in cities on the East Coast to smash lighted store windows and signs.

But while we may face real threats, this type of paranoia has no place in the Christian’s mind. As 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 

David said in Psalm 27:3, “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” In fact, the command to “fear not” is found 365 times in the Bible.

Here are three biblical responses to fear in times of crisis. 

Fear vs. Trust

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” In Genesis 45:5, Joseph told his brothers, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” 

As scripture teaches, not only does God allow difficult things to happen; He in fact ordains and orchestrates trials in our lives to fulfill His purpose. Never for one moment is He not in control. Indeed, nothing ever takes Him by surprise. 

Trusting God’s control in these times allows us to rest in Him, to pray for our nation and the world, and to reach out with boldness and compassion. Like Joseph, we can rest in God’s providence, and in so doing, increase our impact for Him.

Could God use today’s uncertainty to bring another Great Awakening to America? We can certainly pray that He would.

Read more: Trusting God in the Valleys

Fear vs. Discernment

Throughout history, dictators and demagogues have employed fear to manipulate an undiscerning people. As James Madison said, “Crisis is the rallying cry of the tyrant.” 

Adolf Hitler learned to masterfully exploit crisis in order to increase his power. Hitler’s rise was only made possible by Germany’s economic collapse. And when there was no crisis to be found, Hitler’s cronies simply manufactured one, as they did with the Reichstag fire, and before the invasions of Austria, Czecheslovakia, and Poland. 

Inside Crowd Manipulation

Gustave Le Bon noted in his book, “The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind:” “Crowds are influenced mainly by images produced by the judicious employment of words and formulas.” Effectively use words and images to create widespread panic, and you are well on your way to stampeding the crowd, like a herd of buffalo, towards whatever end you have in mind. 

In his book “Propaganda,” Edward Bernays said, “We are dominated by the relatively small number of persons who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.” 

Today’s Emotionally-Charged Debate

The past few months, rather than honestly dialoguing with those who disagree with the established view surrounding Covid-19, some media and tech outlets have sought instead to discredit, censor, or emotionally shame opposing views, accusing them of being heartless or uncaring.

As discerning Christians, we should sincerely question the motives of anyone who uses fear or emotional responses to dismiss honest debate.

Read more: How to Discern Truth in a World of Deception

Fear vs. Prudence

Proverbs 22:3 says, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” 

The Path Between Greed and Fear

In the stock market, investors are motivated primarily by two emotions—greed and fear. As an investing consultant once told me, “Buy when the crowd is fearful and sell when they are greedy.”

Today, we can see many Americans fearfully demanding for more government control and benefits in exchange for freedom. On the greed side of the equation, many Americans tend to “vote their pocketbooks,” electing whoever promises greater prosperity or benefits.

As the middle path between these two emotions, prudence allows an individual to emotionally disconnect for a moment. Rational reflection, rather than emotional reaction, helps us make better decisions as we analyze history and current trends through the lens of scripture.

Prudent Questions to Ask

Rather than fearing, now is the time to prayerfully analyze questions like the following:

• How would we respond to the suggested policy of forced vaccinations?
• How could the 2020 elections impact our faith, family, and freedom?
• Is massive inflation coming? If so, how can we best prepare financially?  
• What are the threats to my family and how will we respond? How bad could things get?
• How might civil unrest or food shortages affect my family?
• Are we preparing for hardship?
• As Christians, how can we reach out to others now with the gospel and compassion?
• How can we warn our local communities and elected officials?

In the end, prudent questions lead to prudent action.

Conclusion: Fear God

As Christians, we should be genuinely concerned about the disturbing events happening in our country and world. Yet in the midst of these uncertain times, we cannot be paralyzed with fear. Rather, we must live by the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

Isaiah 8:13 says, “Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” God alone is the one Whom we must fear. Not government, pandemics, war, or economic collapse. For the Christian, to fear God is not to be terrified of Him; rather, it is to have a holy, reverent, awe and respect for Who He is.

A genuine fear of God our Father motivates our service and provides immense comfort, knowing that He cares for us every moment.

If you know Christ, are you trusting or worrying? Are you being faithful to serve Him in these difficult times?

If you don’t know Christ, one day you will meet Him. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). On that day, will you meet Him as Savior or as Judge?

Question: How do the truths of scripture equip Christians to cope with difficult times?