Training Our Minds To COPE With Fear

Fear is a controlling emotion. But You can train your mind to overcome fear. Whether you struggle with fear and anxiety regularly or it catches you off guard once in a while.

People use fear to control others, governments use fear to control citizens, and parents use fear to control their children.

The emotion of fear can be good as it keeps us from standing too close to a fire, climbing too high on a ladder, or pulling out into traffic without checking both ways. But fear can also be debilitating.

Fear can keep us from sharing the gospel, visiting a sick friend, showing up for our job, or starting something new. Debilitating fear can keep us from fulfilling God’s will for our life.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.

What Is the Root Cause of Fear

The root cause of fear is unbelief. If we believe that God is sovereign and has everything under His control, we would not fear the dark, the unknown, danger, snakes, or death. And when I say “fear”, I mean it would not cause anxiety or undue stress.

Fear is a good thing when you need that adreneline to make you run faster. But when we fear things to the point that it hinders from life, it is wrapped in unbelief.

What does the Bible Say About Fear?

Throughout the Bible, God encouraged His people not to fear because He would be with them. He promised to strengthen them, give them words to say when it was time, and overcome their enemies by His strength.

• Abraham left his homeland without knowing where he would go
• Moses went before Pharoah without knowing what to say
• Joshua led the Israelites without any knowledge of leadership
• Rahab hid the spies of Israel who planned to destroy Jericho
• Daniel slept with lions because he wouldn’t stop praying
• The three Hebrew boys walked in fire because they refused to worship idols
• Esther approached the King, risking her own life for her country
• David fought a giant, defeated all his enemies, and became king through God’s strength

12 Basic Fears We all Face 

It’s impossibe to not feel fear at all. We all face fears based on our performance, circumstances, and imaginations. However, God promises to be with us in those situations when we are walking in faith.

Fears Based on Performance

Fear is self-limiting. If we fear failure, we take no action, so we never reach our greatest potential.

1. Finances
2. Relationships
3. Rejection
4. Success

Fears Based on Circumstances

Some fears are based on circumstance. No matter how hard we work or how much we do, we have no control over theses things

1. Death
2. Illness
3. Safety of loved ones
4. Weather

Fears Based on Imaginations

The imagination can be our greatest asset or our worst enemy. We know there are no monsters under our bed, but we still look. (Or is that just me?)

1. The darkness
2. The unknown
3. Animals and insects
4. People

Of course, this list is not conclusive, but the Bible teaches that we can lay aside these fears, if we walk by faith.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

God is ever present, but when we try to do things in our own strength, we usurp our authority over His and loose the blessing of that secure feeling.

Faith Over Fear

Farmers are fearless. Daily, these brave men and women (and farm kids) go into the wilderness called “The Field” facing overly protective mama cows who just had a baby calf. Or coaxing a raging bull to go through a small gate as they stand between it and his only escape route.

Many dangers face the American farmer and their family, not the least being finances. But I digress a little bit to make a point.

We are a farming family (in case that slipped by you). And we have been in a lot of dangerous situations throughout the years. But this past summer, my husband, whom I affectionately call “The Farmer,” asked to be lifted in the bucket of our largest tractor so he could climb onto the top of the barn. He needed to secure some screws that had loosened.

This is nothing new. I’ve lifted him in the tractor bucket to trim trees around the fence line, to wash the siding on the church building, even to loosen our flag that had caught on the eagle that sat on top of our flagpole. Of course, he put a ladder inside the bucket so he could reach the top of the flag pole. And in every building project, we use this method instead of scaffolding.

But this time, as The Farmer climbed onto the lower level of the barn roof and then up to the peak, fear ceased my heart as I’ve never experienced before. My heart began to thump against my chest, my stomach churned, and my thoughts raced in my mind.

Awful thoughts of the possibilities of what could happen.

As I sat there in the cab of the tractor, I begged God for his safety, but I was still feeling anxious. I continued to pray, but I couldn’t believe that he would be okay. I was spiraling and couldn’t stop.

I began self-consoling, at times, scolding myself because I knew the truth–God has everything under His control–but I couldn’t believe it. And then I began to recite familiar Bible verses:

• Fear not
• Be strong and courageous
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart

As I allowed my mind to think about the verses, I began to calm down. I gradually began to feel the fear release. Instead of having disastrous thoughts, I became confident. I began “knowing” that God had everything under His control, and no matter what happened, it was not my worry but His responsibility.

I remained alert to the dangerous task but no longer feared the possibilities. I allowed my faith to conquer my fear.

How to Train Your Mind to Overcome Fear

Like most emotions, fear comes out of nowhere. It raises its destructive head from the waters of doubt and faithlessness. But we can overcome it. And as in all things, we as Christians start with prayer and meditation.

Prayer is our conversation with God. Meditating on the Bible is God’s conversation with us.

You can train your mind to overcome fear. Whether you struggle with fear and anxiety regularly or it catches you off guard once in a while.

When fear comes up, identify it. Sometimes an uneasy feeling begins to churn in our minds until we get worked up into worry, and then that worry turns to anxiety. But if we take time to identify what’s bothering us, we can pray clearly about it.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV

Training the Mind to C.O.P.E. with Fear

Control your imagination. Firstly, take a deep breath, maybe a few of them. Try to calm yourself. It’s okay to talk to yourself; it doesn’t mean you’re crazy unless we all are because we all do it. Think about the circumstance. For me, it was the fear of my husband falling off the roof to his death. Circumstances are out of our control. We can’t take responsibility for them.

Open your mouth. Secondly, audibly say what you fear or write it down. It keeps the thoughts from churning in your mind. When we keep our thoughts inside, they continue to cycle. My thoughts at the time were, “He’s going to fall,” “How can I keep him safe,” “I don’t want to lose him,” “How will I get him help.” And then, of course, a thousand other thoughts came along beside those thoughts until my mind was spiraling. But a spoken thought is like a lump of hot coal taken off the grill and laid someplace by itself. It may continue to burn, but not as intensely and will eventually grow cold.

Pray for help. Thirdly, As you speak the fear, turn it into a prayer. God knows it anyway. But how He loves for us to call on Him and ask for His help! Recite verses—even partial verses, sing songs, read the Bible. When my husband was on the roof, I was terrified and prayed for his safety. But it wasn’t until I calmed down and went through these steps that I began to experience true peace.

Expect great things! Fourthly, get EXCITED! You are talking to the Creator of the Universe! The One who has great plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11) Your Father who tells you to ask anything according to His will, He will hear us! 1 John 5:14

Controlling your imagination is not only taking bad or harmful thoughts into captivity, but it’s also holding onto thoughts that excite us or fill us with joy, peace, and hope. Paul instructs the church in Philippi to think on GREAT things! Just as your mind can churn like a hamster wheel filled with unhealthy thoughts, it can also spin like a top with happy thoughts.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

10 Scriptures about Faith Over Fear

1. 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. Psalm 23:4
2. 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 27:1
3. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4
4. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah Psalm 46:1-3
5. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2
6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34 ESV
8. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 ESV
9. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7
10. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Do you struggle with fear or anxiety? I wrote this devotional for people who struggle with finding joy in their situation. Sometimes when life puts us in a hard place, we forget that God is on His throne and He still deserves our admiration and worship. This guided journey will help you discover how to be happy in your most difficult times.

Comfort Beside Still Waters is a devotional for those going through a difficult time or seeking direction. This guided journal will lead the reader into 31 days of Bible reading, thoughtful questions, and prayer. A thoughtful gift for someone going through times of uncertainty, grief, or prolonged illness. 

Order your copy on Amazon.