You can harness your fear to build your faith by being honest about it and turning to God first instead of last. Fear is a normal human emotion, and sometimes it protects us. But it can also paralyze us and keep us from trusting God. The story of King Jehoshaphat shows a simple path: admit you’re afraid, turn to God, and seek him wholeheartedly, even through fasting. His place of fear became a valley of blessing.
Fear Comes in Many Forms
Everyone experiences fear. It shows up as fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of pain or loss, fear of rejection, and ultimately the fear of death. Some of us carry a constant hum of anxiety, while others get blindsided by sudden panic. Either way, fear is one of the most powerful emotions we face.
King Jehoshaphat faced almost every kind of fear at once. He was one of Judah’s few good kings, committed to the Lord and busy teaching God’s law throughout the land (2 Chronicles 17:6-9). Life seemed to be going well. Then came terrible news.
2 Chronicles 20:1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.
A coalition of armies was marching toward Judah. Jehoshaphat feared failing his people, the unknown outcome of war, the pain and loss it would bring, and the very survival of his nation. Sometimes fear arrives right when life seems most stable.
Fear Can Protect or Paralyze
Fear isn’t caused by situations themselves but by how our minds and bodies respond to them. That response can be a gift. Fear makes you back away from a bear on a hiking trail or pull your hand away from a hot stove. It helps protect us from real danger.
But fear can also take over. It can keep us awake at night, shrink our world, and convince us that God can’t be trusted. Paul offers a better way to respond when anxiety rises.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Instead of letting worry spiral, we can let it trigger prayer. The key question is whether your fear is building your faith or tearing it down. For more help, see Anxious for Nothing.
Jehoshaphat’s Three-Step Plan
When the armies advanced, Jehoshaphat was terrified, but he didn’t pretend otherwise. He “resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3). His response gives us a model. First, admit you’re afraid. Put the fear on the table instead of hiding it. Second, turn to God, and do it first instead of after you’ve tried everything else. Third, seek God wholeheartedly, which for Jehoshaphat meant fasting. Then he prayed this honest prayer:
2 Chronicles 20:12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
That’s a striking contrast to the people closest to him. His father, Asa, developed a severe disease, but “even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord” (2 Chronicles 16:12). King Ahab tried to outsmart danger with a disguise and died anyway (2 Chronicles 18:29-34). Jehoshaphat chose to depend on God.
From Fear to the Valley of Blessing
God answered Jehoshaphat’s prayer through a prophet with a powerful message.
2 Chronicles 20:15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
The next morning, the people marched out singing praises to God, and the enemy armies turned on each other (2 Chronicles 20:22). Judah didn’t even have to fight. Afterward, they gathered in a valley to praise God and named it the Valley of Berakah, which means “blessing” (2 Chronicles 20:26). The place they had feared became the place they celebrated God’s faithfulness.
God wants to do the same for us. His love is the ultimate answer to our fears, because “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Through Jesus, we don’t have to fear punishment or death. We belong to a God who fights for us.
The Takeaway
How can you harness your fear to build your faith? Admit it, turn to God first, and seek him with your whole heart. Fear doesn’t have to defeat you. When you bring it to God, even your darkest valley can become a valley of blessing.
