Biblical Answer

Is Fearing God the Same as Being Afraid of Him?

Fearing God and being afraid of Him are not the same. While the fear of God may involve a sense of awe and reverence, it is not the same as being terrified or living in dread of Him. In fact, the Bible teaches that fearing God leaves no room for fear of anything or anyone else (Proverbs 29:25). A biblical fear of the Lord is a response of our entire being, involving a deeply committed respect, love, and reverence for God's authority and power (Job 28:28).

The fear of God is not an intellectual understanding, but a response that comes from the heart. When God teaches us to fear Him, He usually does it in a way that is utterly astonishing (Psalm 104:31). The fear of God is not just about being respectful of God's power, but also about being overwhelmed with wonder before His greatness (Psalm 96:4). It is a sense of awe and reverence that comes from knowing who God is and what He has done. In fact, the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).

While it may seem counterintuitive, fearing God can actually give us courage and confidence in our daily lives. When we have a deeply committed respect for God's authority and power, we can face bad news and difficult situations with trust and gratitude (Proverbs 31:25-26). Fearing God means being afraid of what life would be like without Him and being grateful that we have a relationship with Him. It is a sense of reverence and awe that comes from knowing that God is our judge and our Savior (Psalm 130:3-4). In short, fearing God is not the same as being afraid of Him; it is a response of our entire being that involves a deeply committed respect, love, and reverence for God's authority and power.