Fear & Anxiety - Youth

Fear & Anxiety: biblically defined and explained

Fear defined:

Fear: is a strong emotional reaction to a perceived imminent danger characterized by a fight, flight, or freeze response.

Anxiety:

Fear explained

Fear can be real or imagined, rational or irrational, normal or abnormal.

Fear is physically natural, it was placed in us by God. Physically, it’s a defense system when we face real danger. Our body releases a hormone called adrenaline from the adrenal gland to both prepare and propel us to action, which is to fight or flight.

Fear is a natural emotion designed by God. However, fearfulness is not designed by God, fearfulness is living in a state of fear.

Anxiety defined:

Anxiety: is an uneasiness or distress over a threat or something unknown and is characterized by extreme worry or brooding fear.

Anxiety explained

Anxiety stems from uncertainty; hoping something will happen, but having no guarantee that it will or fearing something will happen, but having no control over whether it will or not.

Anxiety can lead to “catastrophic thinking” overestimating the likelihood or danger or a negative outcome.

Anxiety can become so intense that it dominates a person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions, preventing the person from living a normal life.

Biblical Examples of God-centered fear and man-centered fear

Joshua & Caleb Vs. Israel

Background ()

So God’s people have begun their journey in the wilderness towards the promised land that God told them they’d be occupying. the book of numbers captures the preparations made for beginning their journey through the wilderness. In God’s people are getting closer to the lands they were promised, so God tells Moses to send some men from the twelve tribes of Israel to go check out the land of Canaan, the promised land from God.

Point of the mission ()

Go check out the land; what are the people like, strong or weak, a few or many, is the land good or bad, are there camp’s or fortified cities, is the land rich or poor, check the condition of the land. The mission lasted 40 days.

Fearful report of the mission from the ten spies ()

The report was all good concerning the condition of the land, it was rich in livestock, trees, fruit, and flowing with milk and honey. However, the report of the people were, “the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large.” So they brought the people a bad report, saying that those people were stronger and would devour them, they were giants, they were the infamous, Nephilim. We are but grasshoppers!!

Favorable report according to Joshua & Caleb ()

Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it!! If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD, and DO NOT FEAR the people for they are bread for us!! Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them!

The fearful and anxious response of the people ()

The people freaked out! They started grumbling against Moses and Aaron, saying, we would have rather stayed in Egypt than come out here in the wilderness and die by the sword, why has the Lord brought us out here, only to have our wives and children become prey, lets go back to Egypt. Let’s find a leader who will take us back. After Joshua’s and Caleb’s persuasive report to go take the land, they wanted to stone them!!

A Meditation of God-Centered Fear

English Standard Version Psalm 27

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?

2 When evildoers assail me

to eat up my flesh,

my adversaries and foes,

it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the LORD,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;

be gracious to me and answer me!

8 You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

“Your face, LORD, do I seek.”

9 Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,

O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,

O God of my salvation!

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,

but the LORD will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living!

14 Wait for the LORD;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!

Psalm 27:title–14 ESV

Of David. 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? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!