There are many verses in the Bible that call us to fear the Lord, yet throughout Scripture, God constantly reassures His people, saying: “Do not be afraid.” At first glance, this might seem contradictory—why would God want us to fear Him, yet also command us not to be afraid?

For many, the idea of fearing God is misunderstood as being afraid of Him, as though He were distant, harsh, or quick to punish. But is that what Scripture truly teaches? Or is the fear of the Lord something deeper—something more beautiful, life-giving, and intimate than we might initially think?

The more I reflect on it, the more I realize that fearing God is not about terror but about standing in awe of who He is. It is not a fear that drives us away in terror but a reverence that draws us nearer—a recognition of His holiness, His power, and His infinite love.—a recognition of His holiness, His power, and His infinite love.

WHAT DOES ‘‘FEAR OF THE LORD’’ REALLY MEAN?

Let’s begin with what Scripture itself says about fearing God:

Proverbs 9:10 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Psalm 111:10 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding.”
Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

At its core, fearing the Lord is the foundation of wisdom and understanding. It means recognizing Him as the ultimate authority over our lives, living in a way that honors Him, and walking in alignment with His will.

• Fear That Leads to Worship

Understanding the fear of the Lord as reverence rather than dread leads us naturally to worship. When we recognize His greatness, His holiness, and His love for us, our response is not one of shrinking back in terror, but of drawing near in awe and devotion.

In Deuteronomy, God commands Israel to fear Him, but notice how this “fear” is linked with love and obedience:

Deuteronomy 10:12 – “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? To fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

This fear is not dread but devotion. It’s not about being scared of punishment but about recognizing His greatness and responding in worship.

• The Reaction to God’s Holiness

When people in the Bible encountered God’s holiness, they often responded with fear—not because God was cruel, but because His glory and perfection made them deeply aware of their own sinfulness.

Isaiah 6:5 – When Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord, he said, “Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.”
Luke 5:8 – When Peter saw Jesus’ power, he fell at His feet and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

This reaction is not fear in the sense of being afraid of harm—it is the overwhelming recognition of how small we are compared to the majesty of God. Yet, in both instances, God does not leave them in that fear. Instead, He draws them near.

Why Does God Always Say, “Do Not Be Afraid”?

A beautiful pattern runs throughout the Bible—whenever fear arises, God immediately reassures His people.

Genesis 15:1 – “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Daniel 10:19 – “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed. Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”
Luke 1:30 – “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
Matthew 14:27 – When the disciples were terrified seeing Jesus walking on water, He said: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

This tells us something profound:
God does not want His people to live in fear of Him as if He were a threat.
Whenever fear arises because of something supernatural, God removes it.
Fear is only for those who reject Him—but for His children, fear is replaced with love.

This is why Jesus’ coming changed everything. He didn’t come to make us fearful slaves, but beloved children:

Romans 8:15 – “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”
1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.”

Through Christ, our fear of condemnation is gone. We do not approach God as a terrifying judge, but as a loving Father.

So, Should We Fear God?

Yes—but not in a way that leads to terror or dread. The Bible shows us that:

The fear of the Lord is awe, reverence, and worship.
It is the foundation of wisdom and obedience.
For unbelievers, fear means recognizing God’s judgment is real.
For believers, fear transforms into love and trust.

My Personal Reflection: A Fear That Brings Peace

For a long time, I wondered why God would want us to fear Him. It didn’t make sense—how could I fear Someone who is the very source of love, comfort, and light? To me, He was the opposite of fear; He is reassurance, love, comfort, light, and a giver of all things good. He loves us so much—what is there to fear? People often say we should fear God, but I didn’t, and to be honest, He brought me the complete opposite feelings. Was I doing something wrong? The more I read and studied the Bible, the more love I felt—and certainly not fear. So I turned to Scripture and reflected on it, and that’s when I understood. I realized that I wasn’t wrong—the true fear of the Lord is not terror, but security.

I don’t fear Him the way I would fear danger. I ‘fear’ Him because He is so much greater than I can comprehend. I ‘fear’ Him because He is holy and I am not. I ‘fear’ Him because He holds the entire universe in His hands, yet still cares for me personally.

And that fear—that awe—doesn’t make me want to run away. It draws me closer to Him.

Because when you truly know God, you realize that He is the safest place in all existence, the One who fights for us, protects us, and never abandons us. He is the One who fights for us, protects us, and never abandons us. He is the One who reassures us again and again—"Do not be afraid."

So yes, I ‘fear’ the Lord. But it’s not the kind of fear that brings distress—it’s the kind of fear that brings peace.

A fear that is filled with love. A fear that draws me closer. A fear that melts into worship.

Because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom—but the end of fear itself.

Because when you truly know God, you realize:
He is the safest place in all existence.
He is the One who fights for us, protects us, and never abandons us.
He is the One who reassures us again and again—"Do not be afraid."

A fear that is filled with love.
A fear that draws me closer.
A fear that melts into worship.

Because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom—but the end of fear itself.

How Does This Resonate With You?

I invite you to reflect on your own understanding of the fear of the Lord. Has this changed your perspective? Do you see Him as a loving Father rather than someone to dread? Let’s continue this conversation—share your thoughts, ask questions, or dive deeper into His Word together. You are not alone on this journey of faith.

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