Fear is an issue that we sometimes don’t talk about as Christians. If we admit we have fears, like all humans do, we might be looked down on, or told we’re not good enough Christians. We don’t know what people will think of us or say, so we keep quiet.

However, being scared doesn’t make us non-Christians. Even in the Bible, people dealt with fear. Moses, David, Elijah, and Paul are just a few examples of people who experienced this strong emotion. Moses was scared of speaking to others; David was frightened of his enemies; Elijah was afraid of Queen Jezebel, who wanted to kill him; Paul was worried when he went to a new place to preach.

Besides the idea that Christians shouldn't be fearful, another popular idea is that fear will go away right away if we pray about it. That is sometimes true, but other times God works with us through time,and works through other people, such as pastors and counselors.

For example, I have been scared of thunderstorms since as long as I can remember. One night this last summer, I prayed and remembered a Bible verse, "When I am afraid I will trust in You." I was still frightened, but, somehow, I felt peaceful, too. After that, it became easier, and although I hate going out in thunderstorms, I’m not nearly as uneasy about them as I used to be.

However, I am also scared of death. I think that is something that God is working on over time. I have asked God multiple times to please take away the fear, but I believe that sometimes God wants us to face our problems and overcome them with His strength, because they build our character and He’ll use it for our good and the good of others.

In addition, I believe that God places people in our lives to help, just like he did in Bible times. Sometimes our fears become so strong that we do not know how to deal with them. When this happens, I don't believe God wants us to live in excessive fear for our whole lives; to live in silence. I don't think it is a sin to reach out for help, to admit that you have a problem, especially when some debilitating anxiety or anxiety disorders can be caused by physical health problems or genetic ones; not spiritual ones.

One of my favorite Bible verses since I was little has been, “Do not fear for I am with you. Don’t be afraid because I am Your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you by my righteous right hand.”

As a counselor told me, it is like having a friend tell you gently, “Don’t worry, everything will be okay.” That’s not always easy to believe; it doesn’t always seem like everything will be okay, and sometimes we have good reasons to worry. But God is like our Father, and He’s all powerful; He can do anything and He knows the future. He keeps His promises, so you can always know that He’ll help you. Whether you are stressed while studying for a big test coming up, or up in the middle of the night with a panic attack so bad that you can’t breathe, He’ll be right there to support you, and He’ll never leave you.