A Prayer for When You Are Afraid

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Father, how grateful I am for Your awesome love and that You are with me at this moment when I need the comfort only You can provide. I am afraid. I am shaken to my core. But

You know all about my fears

— how deeply they affect me, where they originate in my heart and mind, and how they ultimately paralyze me from moving forward in important ways. Thank You, Father, for helping me overcome the things I am afraid of and offering me Your peace and security.

Father, it is amazing how situations such as the one I am facing can knock me off my feet and throw me off balance. I know that happens because I feel weak and frightened when I lack control. However, I recognize that when I wrestle with such fears, they ultimately exist because of what I believe about You. I am focused on myself and the challenges rather than You. Therefore, please reveal where my fears have taken root and why they exist. Lord, remove the lies I believe and the issues that prevent me from fully embracing who You are.

Continue to give me strength and courage through Your Word.

• Comfort me with Your nearness, and reassure me of Your constant presence.

Teach me about who You are so I can stand strong against these fears and declare in faith, “My God is wiser, more loving, and more powerful than any problem I could ever face!” Help me to daily place my focus on Your unfailing character and life-giving principles so that I can be courageous — a person who obeys and pleases You in every way.

Father, I am grateful that You want me to be free and won’t let me remain in bondage —You don’t want me to be a slave to my fears. You desire for me to enjoy the abundant life You created me for. Therefore, You bring my fears to light so that You can deliver me from them and I can be free.

So I will set my heart to believe You and will say as David did,

Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me? . . .
In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me? . . .
For You have delivered my soul from death.
Have You not kept my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of the living?
(Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 56:11, Psalm 56:13 NKJV)

I bless and praise You for Your kindness and the patience with which You heal my wounds. Thank You, Father, that I can have victory over my fears because of who You are and what You’ve promised. You said I can have confidence because You will be my God, You will always be with me, and You will protect me with Your righteous right hand. You are the all-powerful and all-wise God who defends me. Truly, You are worthy of all the honor, glory, power, and praise! And my soul rests secure and in peace because of You.

In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Excerpted with permission from When You Don’t Know What to Pray by Charles F. Stanley, copyright Charles F. Stanley.

* * *

Your Turn

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You, Lord. Trust in Him today, saints, even if you feel afraid. ~ Devotionals Daily