Overcoming Fear

We are talking about overcoming fear today and our scripture is John 16:33 (NLT): “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Fear has a way of sneaking in, doesn’t it? Sometimes it’s loud and obvious, like when life throws something unexpected our way. Other times, it’s quieter — the “what ifs” that roll around in our minds late at night. But in John 16:33, Jesus reminds us of something bigger than our fear: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

What a gift that is — we don’t have to pretend fear doesn’t exist, but we don’t have to stay stuck in it either. Jesus has already won, and because of Him, we can walk forward with courage. Today we’re leaning into that truth — that peace and strength are found in Christ, even when fear tries to take over.

I’m a pretty logical thinker and somewhat of an overthinker, and when something proves to be harmful, unknown, or uncomfortable, I get this feeling of fear that can take over and become paralyzing.

I can, and have, literally thought of every scenario and played out how bad it can be and really stirred myself up.

But over the years, the Lord has taught me that He has all things in His hands, and I don’t need to be fearful of any of those things.

God has taken me down roads that I would have been fearful of years ago and brought me through them. He’s helped me to realize that through His strength and guidance, He will give peace and understanding. And in that, the truth of “He’s overcome the world” and “God has gone before us” and “With Him there is victory” comes to light. He is truth, and His promises are true, so take heart and know that God is with you and has overcome the world.

My daughter has some anxieties — especially when it comes to storms — so I’ve started talking to her about the weather, looking at the radar, and having her watch the clouds so she can learn the movement and signs of what is happening.

When we focus so much on the what-ifs of things, we cannot think clearly nor really understand that all will pass in due time. Though the storm may be rough, we don’t need to fear.

When we learn the signs, we can immediately go to God in prayer and ask Him for peace and also the understanding of what we are going through.

When you are going through a hard season, hold tight to what God says.

I’ve talked about perspective a few times, and that’s because it is important for us to see things through God’s perspective.

The world feeds us so much information, and a lot of it can make us fearful. But when we look at things with discernment and through the lens of what God says in the Bible, we are better able to understand through the perspective of God.

The world can be fearful, but the one who created the world knows all things and will help us to understand things when we ask.

We often ask why, so let’s continue that but also ask God to help us understand at the same time so that we have a better understanding of the work that He is doing.

John 16:33 (NLT): “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Fear shows up in all shapes and sizes — from big life changes to the little everyday anxieties. But John 16:33 is our anchor: “Take heart, because I have overcome the world.” That means nothing you face today is bigger than Jesus.

Let’s talk about how God gives us peace in the middle of the storm — not just when it’s over.

I’ve had times of fearfulness and fearlessness.

I don’t like heights, and roller coasters for me are something I’m fearful of. But when I was younger, I remember climbing trees without any fear, even after I fell out of one and broke my wrist. I find fear to be interesting because I think it is just how we relate to it.

Like, how did we become fearful of something in the first place? A lot of times it’s because something happens to us. We suddenly find ourselves in the midst of something bad or uncomfortable, and now we might fear it.

But when we know that we are protected no matter what may come, we can be more confident and not so fearful. That confidence comes from God.

I know we think of rational and irrational fears a lot, but it’s the fears of the unknown that stop us in our tracks the most. The unknown can be scary, and if we let our thoughts and emotions guide us, we can feel out of control. That is why Jesus covered fear in His teaching, because He knows, and He experienced everything.

When we try to control a situation, we have actually decided that we are not going to let God be in control. And if you think about it, that is when we start to feel like we are spiraling, and then our fears are magnified.

We have to remember that God causes everything to happen for our good and that He has already overcome the world. We don’t need to fear the loss of control.

John 16:33 (NLT): “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Sometimes fear feels like a weight that won’t let go, but John 16:33 reminds us of the victory we stand in: “I have overcome the world.” That changes everything!

Shifting from fear to faith — reminding ourselves that the One who holds tomorrow also holds us today.

I have this quote from Billy Graham that says, “Whatever the fears, encourage yourself to face them — and then turn them over to God. God loves you, and when we know Christ and have put our faith and trust in Him, we know He’ll never abandon us.”

Having confidence in God can change our outlook on life. We can be fearful of things and struggles, or we can make a choice to fully follow the Lord.

When I was younger, I was a bit anxious, and there was so much I had to learn about God’s love and protection in order to trust Him with full abandon.

It was when I made that choice that my life changed completely. I no longer looked at things or heard things and became fearful. I now stand firm in the Lord and know that no matter what may come or how tragic it is, God has a plan, and I have to have faith over fear in order to rely on God and know that He is with me.

When we acknowledge our fears, we are then able to overcome them. We need to understand why we are fearful and then take small steps to overcome.

I’ve heard this: that to overcome you just have to do it. I’m fearful of heights, and I’ve still done things, but I’m still fearful. So it makes me wonder if it’s not a one-time thing but something we have to do multiple times in order to overcome. You know, like starting a new habit — you have to do it for like 30 days or something. It must be the same with overcoming fear.

But with God helping us overcome, we don’t have to try to will that all alone. I know for sure if I needed to overcome something on my own it would be difficult, and I don’t think I’d have the discipline. But knowing that someone was there to be accountable to could make all the difference. Which is why God calls us to Him when we are weak or weary, and He will help us through.

As we wrap up, let’s go back to John 16:33. Jesus didn’t promise us a life without trials or fears. In fact, He told us we’d face them. But He also gave us the greatest encouragement of all: “Take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

That means fear doesn’t get the last word. Whatever you’re carrying today, you don’t have to carry it alone — Jesus has already gone ahead, and His peace is yours. So, the next time fear comes knocking, remember: you’ve got a Savior who’s bigger than anything you’ll face.