“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 NIV

I’ve walked the same path a hundred times before, but this time, the rustle in the bushes stopped me cold. The stillness of the street at that hour of the morning magnified the sound, sending signals of fear from my mind to my heart.

I immediately began sizing up the fear. What could it be? Is it really something to be afraid of, or am I just overreacting? Should I keep moving forward, speed up, or turn and run the other direction?

By the time I’d sorted through whether this fear was worth fearing, I’d reached the bush. No turning back now, the only move was to forge ahead.

I glanced into the bushes without slowing and discovered the source of my fear. It was a robin, scurrying from branch to branch. Not anything to fear at all.

The Danger of Sizing Up Our Fears

There are times in life when we size up circumstances to see if they are worth fearing. If we decide this ‘thing’ is big enough and scary enough, we have time to turn back. If it’s small, then we may decide we’re strong enough or big enough to face it. Often times, when fear comes upon us, we forget that God is bigger than every fear.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 NIV

Friend, I can say with all certainty from my many experiences battling fear: Analyzing, or sizing up, our fears is a waste of time and energy. It only ends up affecting our peace and joy. The above verse from God’s holy Word tells us what we need to do when we come face to face with fear. If we can turn our thoughts to Him first, fears shrink away.

Is It Real or Imagined? The Difference Between Our Fears

It would be wrong for me to imply that all fears should be ignored. My friend and hope coach Carmen Horne spoke about healthy fears in her short podcast episode, 3 Ways to Combat Fear.

Some threats are very real, and in many cases, our instincts to seek a path to safety should not be pushed aside. Whether what we fear is a real threat or an imagined worst-case-scenario, we can always begin with prayer.

Fear comes in many forms. Most of my fears come from my lack of control in a given situation. I fear the future for my loved ones, my health, or our finances. Through my own journey with the ups and downs of fear, I’ve discovered a pattern. What begins as a seemingly innocent worry will escalate into full blown fear, if I do not address the worry from the beginning. Because the more I let worry linger, the more it grows. Before I realize it, the worry has worked its way into my mind and heart. It has gotten a foothold.

I created this list of verses to help me deal with worry first thing in the morning, before it has a chance to take hold. But rest assured, even if a small worry in your life has already escalated into fear, God’s Word is powerful enough to extinguish fear and replace it with peace.

Best Verses for Winning the Battle Over Fear

Committing a few powerful verses to memory will help get our minds and hearts settled on peace in the face of fear. Here are a few easy, memorable verses we can write down and draw upon when worry has escalated into fear.

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

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:25

We can prepare our hearts in advance with these truths. Believing our God is bigger than any fear will lead to a life of freedom from worry and victory in the face of fear.

Each morning I try to take a brisk walk down our street. There’s a lovely walking trail next to the lake in my neighborhood, but instead of venturing down the trail, I always turn back and stay on the main road instead.

You see, the walking trail runs in between the fishing lake and the houses beside it. It appears to be cutting a path through private property, but my husband assured me that's not the case. And even though I trust my husband fully, I still hesitate before taking the path. I question if it’s safe, or if someone is going to come out their back door and shout at me to stop walking on their property.

I’m a rule follower, and I shudder at the thought of taking a wrong step. If only the path had a clear sign, giving me the okay to go that direction.

My relationship with the Holy Spirit can feel a lot like that walking path. I say that I trust God to guide me, but instead of following with confidence, I let my own thoughts and ideas get in the way. When we sense the Spirit giving us the go-ahead to take a certain path, will we listen? Or will we lean on our own understanding instead?

The Holy Spirit’s Role in Our Lives

When Jesus ascended to heaven to be with the Father, he sent us the Holy Spirit as our Helper and Comforter. As we learn more about who he is and our relationship with him, the Holy Spirit will work powerfully in our lives.

Understanding how the Holy Spirit guides us will help us gain confidence in following his lead. Here are 4 ways the Holy Spirit guides us in our daily lives:

Number One: He will bring specific Scriptures to mind at times when we need them most.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 ESV

Number Two: He shows us where we should or shouldn’t go.

“And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.” Acts:16:6

Number Three: He keeps us from sinful ways.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16 ESV

Number Four: He guides us in becoming more like Jesus.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

For more on what it means to let the Spirit lead you, check out our explanation in the video below:

Carmen & Kristine explain what it means to be led by the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

What Happens When We Follow the Spirit’s Leading

One morning, I decided to trust my husband and take a step of faith down the winding path. “People walk that trail all the time,” he insisted, “I promise you; it will be okay.”

At first, the well-manicured path led me through a peaceful setting next to the serene lake. I listened as a variety of birds sang, reminding me how God feeds even the little birds. (Matthew 6:26)

But soon, overgrowth covered the trail and brush blocked the view in front of me. I paused, and for a moment, I second-guessed my decision. As I was about to turn back, I noticed that I could see through the brush where the trail connected with the familiar street up ahead. I enjoyed the rest of my walk and made it safely to the end. It turned out, my husband was right. (But don’t tell him I said so.)

I’ve been known to second-guess a choice I made, even if I prayed about it and sensed the Holy Spirit guiding me. Because sometimes, the path gets rocky, even when we’re headed in the right direction. Friend, we shouldn’t assume that we’ve made a wrong turn when the path gets rough. The struggle of the rocky terrain may be what God will use to build our faith and strengthen our dependence on him.

Let’s pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us today. May we have wisdom to always seek the Holy Spirit’s understanding instead of our own.

A Prayer to Be Led by the Spirit

Dear Lord,

Teach me to do your will. I know you’ve called me to serve you, but I don’t know what to do next. I want to be led by the Holy Spirit, so I can live out the special purpose you have for me. I seek you today, Father. Let your good Spirit guide me.

Isaiah 30:21 reads, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Sometimes I don’t know which way to go. Help me hear the Holy Spirit’s voice. Teach me how to slow down and take a break from the noise of the world in order to hear you clearly. Help me discern your voice above all others and trust where you lead me.

When I get impatient, thank you for reminding me to seek the fruits of the Spirit, including patience and faithfulness. I know you are with me, and I will continue listening as you direct me to take the next step. Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to lead me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

(This prayer was taken from a devotion by Kristine Brown, written for Crosswalk.)