The message of “fear not” appears hundreds of times in Scripture. Regardless, Christians seem to struggle daily, not only with fear, but with paralyzing panic.  Anxiety plagues us as we grasp for peace and security in worldly comforts. I confess, I don’t write this as someone who has completely mastered my fears. I write as someone who continually has to soak my mind like a tea bag in the Holy Scriptures, practice its wisdom and gaze at the person of Christ. My heart is prone to wander away from the Lord and toward the deception of self-sufficiency. Contrary to popular belief, Scripture is sufficient for more than “small-scale anxieties.” It is perfect in wisdom for even debilitating panic. Truly there is nothing new under the sun, as Scripture provides many relatable examples for those of us prone to panic. 

Leading up to 1 Kings chapter 19, Elijah had just witnessed God’s miraculous power in multiple ways. He was likely on a “spiritual high”—a term used by many Christians today to describe their moments of deep intimacy with God. However, just after the prophets of Baal had been defeated, Ahab incited Jezebel against him by telling her all that Elijah had done. Jezebel responded with a death threat, “so let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow” (v. 2 NKJV). Commentator Matthew Henry explains that while she likely did want him dead, she wouldn’t dare pursue him at that time for fear of the people.1 She was intending to frighten him, and unfortunately, she was successful.

The New King James Version exposes what is at the heart of his panic in verse 3.  It states, “when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life.” Remember, she isn’t actually pursuing him at the moment; it was an empty threat, so he didn’t see anything in real time. However, he “sees” it and responds as if it is actually happening. And so is the nature of panic. We frequently lose sight of reality and with it, our ability to reason. Those prone to panic consider the worst case scenario and react as if it is fact, which is exactly what Elijah did. Then, he fled. Not only that, this same man who witnessed God’s miraculous provision days before, now wanted God to take his life. Because he took his eyes off of the Lord and imagined a problem to the greatest extreme, he’s despairing to the point of death. 

How quickly our thoughts can turn from joy to despair when we don’t focus on what is “true” (Philippians 4:8). We fixate on what could be. I believe this is one reason Christ gives us a tender reminder not to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough worries of its own (Matt. 6:34). Are you living and responding to the reality of the moment, or to an imagined future? The enemy would love to render us unproductive by living in the “what ifs” of the future.

Enemies of God want you to be spiritually paralyzed. Nehemiah was faced with a similar threat as Elijah but responded with godly courage. When he was rebuilding Jerusalem, many enemies attempted to thwart his efforts. Tobiah and Sanballat (his enemies) hired prophets to deceive Nehemiah. They used smooth talk to say, “let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple…close the doors for they are coming to kill you” (Neh. 6:10). Nehemiah responded, “I understood and saw that God had not sent him…For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me” (vv. 12–13). He then continued the work that God had put before him! He didn’t give the fear any attention.

What a striking contrast. One person bowed down to fear and turned to a sinful refuge; the other spotted the deception and focused on what God had for him in the moment. During each moment of panic, we must make a choice. What will I focus on? Better yet, who will I focus on? When Peter’s eyes were on Christ and his heart was ruled by faith, he walked on water. When his faith dwindled, fear overwhelmed his mind.  Matthew 14:30 states, “when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink.”  Jesus confronted his lack of faith, his unbelief. 

Next time you begin to panic, ask yourself if you are focused on the character and promises of Christ or if you are ruminating on what could happen. Are you focusing on what is true? On the contrary, are you believing one of these lies?

God doesn’t see.

God doesn’t care. 

God has abandoned me. 

I must do this on my own. 

Dear Christian, nothing can be further from the truth. Remind yourself that Christ “upholds the universe by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). Find Scriptures to combat the lies you are believing when your fear. Remember, you aren’t sustaining yourself. The same God who is sustaining the world, holds out His hand to keep you from drowning. Rest in His tender care.

  1. Henry, M. “Commentary on 1 Kings 19 by Matthew Henry.” Blue Letter Bible. Last Modified 1 Mar, 1996. https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/1Ki/1Ki_019.cfm
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