Proverbs 14:27 (ESV) The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.”
In Proverbs 2:1–5 we see an if–then statement that shows us step-by-step how to receive the fear of the Lord”
Proverbs 2:1-5 (NLT) 2 My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.”
Genesis 15:1-6 (NET) “After these things the Lord’s message came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.” 2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram added, “Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!” 4 But look, the Lord’s message came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 The Lord took him outside and said, “Gaze into the sky and count the stars—if you are able to count them!” Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord credited it as righteousness to him.”
It was never God’s will for us to be fearful. It wasn’t until the advent of sin that fear became a problem for mankind. In Genesis 3, when Adam committed sin, a new word came into his vocabulary. In speaking to God, Adam said, “I was afraid so I hid.” We struggle with fear. We struggle with fear about the past, present, and future, anxiety disorders, phobias, etc. Fear is natural to man; even though, it was never God’s will for us to be afraid.
Fear leads to Anxiety. Proverbs 12:25 (NET) “Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy.”
Proverbs 29:25 (NET) “The fear of people becomes a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high.”
Fear will also make God’s Word unproductive in our lives. In describing the thorny ground Matthew 13:22 (NET) “The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing”
To battle fear, doubt, and discouragement, we must put our trust in God.
Genesis 15:1 (NET) “After these things the Lord’s message came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.”