No matter who you are or what your circumstances in life are, we all have one thing in common— we all feel afraid sometimes. Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid I will trust in you.” Not IF I am afraid, but WHEN. But even though we may feel afraid, we don’t have to be a slave to fear. What has helped me the most to overcome my fears is praying and believing the promises in God’s Word.

So today, I want to share with you five powerful promises to pray when you are afraid.

When I was a young girl, and even as a young wife and mother, I was extremely shy, timid and quiet. Particularly in group situations, I could never think of anything to say, and even if I did, I was afraid if I did say something, that everyone would laugh at me. My brother, cousins, and so-called friends, would often make fun of me. I know now that they did not mean me any harm, but at the time, it sure hurt.

Today, I still have a quiet personality, but I am no longer shy or timid. Now I walk in confidence and speak with boldness. The change did not happen overnight, but it did happen. And I am still growing in this area.

However, I can honestly say — I am no longer a slave to fear!
(by the way, I LOVE the song “No Longer Slaves” by Jonathan David & Melissa Helser)

1. The first promise to pray when you are afraid is 2 Timothy 1:7.

This is the Scripture that helped me see my timidity for what it really was.

The NIV version says: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

But the NKJV puts it this way: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

I didn’t think I was afraid. I thought I was just shy or timid. But when I saw that the NIV translation translated fear as timid, it got my attention. So I looked up the definition of timid and this is what I found:

timid: showing a lack of courage or confidence; easily frightened

I realized that my shyness and timidity was caused by a spirit of fear. So, whenever I would feel afraid, I would claim this promise, praying, “Father God, thank you that you have not given me a spirit of fear. Thank you that you do not make me timid, but you give me power, love and self-discipline. I reject fear and I receive your power and love.”

To help me memorize Scriptures and hide them in my heart so that I don’t have to look them up, but am ready to speak them throughout my day whenever I need them, I like to find (or create my own) Scripture art. I will then place the Scripture art in strategic places throughout my home where I will see them often.

Another thing I like to do to help me hide God’s Word in my heart is to color a coloring page of the Bible verse I am trying to memorize.

Want to color this page?
Download the coloring page HERE.

Or get it, along with 17 of my other favorite Bible verses
in THIS DEVOTIONAL COLORING BOOK.

2. I also pray this promise when I am afraid:

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27 NLT

My prayer goes something like this… Jesus, thank you for your gift of peace. I receive your peace and I refuse to be troubled or afraid.

3. I love to pray the promise in Romans 8:15 whenever I sense the fear of rejection trying to creep in.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” – Romans 8:15 NLT

Calling God Abba, Father, would be like calling him Daddy God. So I pray… Daddy God, thank you for adopting me as your own child and giving me Your Spirit. Thank you that I no longer have to live like a fearful slave.

4. When you start to feel anxious or worried, the promise to pray is found in 1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the simple definition of anxious is: afraid or nervous, especially about what may happen. So when I am feeling afraid about what may happen, I will pray… Jesus, I thank you that you care for me. Thank you that you care about every little detail and every BIG detail in my life. I cast all my anxiety and worries on you. I trust you.

Another way that helps me to memorize and hide God’s Word in my heart is to set Scripture graphics as wallpapers/lockscreens on my phone so that I am reminded to pray God’s promises every time I open my phone.

Here is a free graphic of 1 Peter 5:7 for you.

(Just click to open full-size image in a new window, then save it to your phone or computer.)

5. Pray the powerful promise in 2 Corinthians 9:8

This may seem like a strange Scripture for me to include in this list of promises to pray when you are afraid, but praying the promise in this verse is what has helped me to overcome my fear of not having enough.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV and NIV

For several years I prayed this several times a day, and I still pray this often… Father God, thank you that you are making all grace abound toward me. I receive your grace in abundance, so that in all things, at all times, having all that I need, I will abound in every good work.

>>> Here are some bookmarks of 2 Corinthians 9:8 for you.

Just complete the form below to gain access to this printable, along with my ENTIRE library of free printables.

Do you have any other Bible verse promises you have found are helpful to pray when you are afraid? Please let me know if the comments below.

Joyfully,