Is It a Sin to Be Afraid?
When someone in a position of authority tells me, “Do not,” my insides stand up straight and tall and salute military style. There must be some “rule follower” gene programmed into my DNA.
So when I don’t understand the “how” of following a rule, my confusion presses me to find answers.
I’ve wrestled with a certain question for a number of years now, and I wonder if you have too:
Is it a sin to be afraid?
When Jesus tells us in the Bible to not be afraid, I have always struggled with the fact that I still am. I can’t seem to get rid of fear completely. My all-or-nothing thinking tells me that if I’m not supposed to be afraid, then I’m sinning whenever I am, especially when these verses are referenced as commands. The definition of a command is an authoritative order.
But here’s what I’ve realized: Fear itself is not a sin. It’s our response to fear that determines whether we are acting in faith or not.
The Reality of Fear
You see, in my bravest and most faith-filled moments, I was still afraid. And there are certain moments in life when I don’t believe it was sinful to feel fear—like when I waited in a hotel room with my four children while my husband underwent open-heart surgery to replace a staph-infected heart valve. Or when we waited to see if stopping his antibiotic treatment would cause the infection to spread to his brain. When we face the possibility of death and losing our loved ones, isn’t it natural to feel fear?
Does the fact that I’ve struggled with fear during uncertain times mean that God is pointing His finger at me, saying, “Oh, you of little faith”?
The Bible tells us in Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This verse reassures us that God is with us when we are afraid.
Fear in the Bible
Over the last ten years, I have studied and examined the question: Is it a sin to be afraid? And the more I study fear in the Bible, the more I see the loving heart of God who understands why we get afraid and longs for us to have peace and trust in Him.
Even though Jesus never sinned, He knows what being human is like. He knows what it’s like to be afraid. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He experienced deep distress before His crucifixion (Luke 22:44). God created us with a natural fight-or-flight instinct to help protect us from danger. Fear itself is not sinful; it is an emotion that signals a need for a response.
When we view fear as a neutral emotion, we can evaluate our response to it rather than shame ourselves for having feelings. We can choose to respond in a healthy or unhealthy way. An unhealthy response can get us stuck in fear, but a healthy response allows us to walk in faith despite fear.
That’s why Joshua 1:9 reminds us: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” This doesn’t mean we won’t feel fear—it means we can move forward in faith, knowing God is with us.
When Jesus commands us not to be afraid, I believe he’s speaking to our response to fear. We can choose to turn toward Jesus in trust when we are scared, or we can choose to ruminate in fearful thoughts and allow unhealthy fear to darken the light and hope we can find in Jesus.
The Fear of the Lord
While the Bible tells us not to be afraid of worldly troubles, it does command us to have the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). This type of fear is reverent awe and respect for God’s power, wisdom, and authority. The fear of the Lord leads to wisdom, faithfulness, and obedience. Unlike unhealthy fear, which leads to anxiety and doubt, the fear of the Lord draws us closer to Him and deepens our trust.
What Does It Mean To Fear The Lord?
The Amazing Benefits And Blessings of Fearing God
How to Know When Your Response to Fear is Unhealthy?
Courageous Fear: Faith in Action
A powerful example of courageous fear is seen in Mark 5. A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years was considered unclean, and anything she touched became unclean too. Despite this, she pressed through the crowd to touch Jesus’ robe for healing. When Jesus asked who touched Him, she trembled in fear. But she had faith in His power and His heart to heal her.
Similarly, Paul, knowing he was going to be executed for his faith, wrote to Timothy, encouraging him to remain steadfast in the Lord. Do we really think he didn’t have some natural fear? Yet, Paul had courageous fear—he knew that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). His hope in eternity allowed him to move forward in faith despite fear.
That’s why 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Fear doesn’t come from God—He gives us the strength to overcome it.
How To Break Free From The Spirit Of Fear
Practical Steps to Overcome Fear
When fear grips you, how can you respond in faith? I created a bookmark for you to download (see below) to help us learn how to respond in faith. Here are some practical steps:
✅ Live in the present. Don’t let worry about the future consume you. (Matthew 6:34)
✅ Remember how God has taken care of you in the past.
✅ List the things you are afraid of that haven’t happened. Fear often exaggerates possibilities.
✅ List the positive things that have happened in your situation.
✅ Listen to praise music.
✅ Seek the Lord in prayer and ask others to pray for you. (Philippians 4:6)
✅ Repeat a promise, Bible verse, or the name of Jesus when you are afraid. (Psalm 56:3)
Conclusion: Faith Over Fear
When Jesus tells us not to be afraid, He is not condemning us for feeling fear. Rather, He is encouraging us not to let fear rule us. We shouldn’t let it control or dictate our responses.
The presence of fear doesn’t always mean the absence of faith—it means we have an opportunity to trust God even more.
Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” This verse acknowledges that fear will come, but it also gives us the answer: Trust in God. When we shift our focus from fear to faith, we experience the peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Recently, I felt anxious about an upcoming appointment. Whenever I had a fearful thought about what could happen, I repeated these three truths: I can trust God. I can rely on God. I can depend on God. I followed the practical steps above to overcome fear and felt peace again. My appointment went much better than expected, and the three truths again proved true. I can trust God. I can rely on God. I can depend on God. And you can too!
So, is it a sin to be afraid? It depends on your response. God tells us not to be afraid because He wants us to trust Him. The more we trust in God, the less we fear. We are called to respond to fear with faith, courage, and trust in our sovereign God.
So what do you need covered in prayer? Let’s pray for one another in the comment section. I encourage you to leave a written prayer for someone else, and if you share your concern, I will pray for you!
Hello there! I'm Valerie, a mom of four and wife of 27 years. My writing inspires others to cultivate courageous faith and find solace in trusting God, especially in moments of fear and uncertainty. Join me on this adventure as we explore the beauty of trusting God when we are afraid. 
This is really powerful! I am taking this with me today —> “Fear itself is not a sin. It’s our response to fear that determines whether we are acting in faith or not.” Thank you for this encouraging post, it is exactly what I needed to hear this morning … ????????