By Danny Minton

On Saturday, March 4, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt stepped onto the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol and made his first speech as president of the United States. The country was in the midst of a significant depression, resulting in homelessness, poverty, and a loss of jobs, with families trying to exist at a low point for the nation.

“I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency, I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive, and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

From our earliest years, we have all faced some fear throughout our lifetime. If you search the internet, you’ll discover several sites listing the worst fears people deal with in their everyday lives. The things that people fear vary widely, with several things making up every list of the top twenty fears people face. Among those are phobias such as the fear of public speaking, fear of closed-in spaces, fear of heights, fear of needles, fear of snakes, and fear of bugs. Health concerns are also among the top fears. People fear their loved ones getting seriously ill or dying. The fear of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and stroke make the list of health fears. For younger adults, the fear of rejection, finding a job, starting a family, and fear of failure make the list. Every generation has some fears that remain the same, with others relevant to their age group. One survey noted that we have fewer fears as we age, with most fears concerned with health.

The Bible is full of people who struggle with fears. Adam and Eve feared God out of guilt of disobeying Him. King Hezekiah wasn’t ready to die and asked God to spare his life. The Israelites feared several things as they wandered through the wilderness. David sometimes feared Saul, hiding and on the run from his wrath. Several times, the Apostles would have to move around fearing for their lives as they tried to share Christ in a lost world. Even Jesus in the Garden, although He did not fear death, was in agony over the pain that he would be physically suffering.

For many people, their fears can become crippling, interfering with their daily lives, family, relationships, and closeness to God. Often, our fears become so strong that they overpower us, hindering our daily lives. We must learn that once we face the things we fear, they no longer have power over us. The key is how those in the Bible overcame their fears by turning to God for strength. By seeking God and realizing that we do not have to face our fears alone, we can gain the strength to overcome anything that keeps us down. King Hezekiah prayed to God, asking for more time. God listened to him, healed him, and blessed him. (1 Kings 20) Jesus submitted to God in the Garden, adding at the end of His prayer, “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22) David understood the value of having God by his side, stating in his Psalm, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23)

Isaiah proclaims the words of God to encourage the Israelites, telling them, “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NASB) There are two things to consider when we face our fears. First, can we do anything about it? If we can’t, we should realize we do not face it alone. God will walk with us through it all. Secondly, if we can do something about it, we should rest assured that God will be with us as we face those fears that challenge us.

At the closing of his speech, Roosevelt called upon the most powerful force he could call upon for help in pulling the nation from the depths of despair and fear to a time of hope. “In this dedication of a Nation, we humbly ask the blessing of God. May He protect each and every one of us. May He guide me in the days to come.”

When you face your fears, take heart in the final words of Jesus to his disciples, “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NASB)

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ