5 Fears We Face in the Night and the Scriptures That Calm Our Anxious Hearts

Spiritual Life

Audio By Carbonatix

By Lynette Kittle, Crosswalk.com

How many of us have been awakened by fear in the middle of the night, fears that seem to come from out of nowhere, interrupting our sound sleep when we’re least expecting it, surprising and alarming us in the dark of night?

Fear that awakens our hearts to pounding, trembling, and wild thoughts. So where do these troubling fears originate in the middle of the night?

During the early morning hours before sunrise, the enemy of our souls often targets us with fear, when our minds are relaxed, enjoying a night of rest, trying to catch us off-guard by interfering in our thoughts and sleep patterns, seeking to stir up havoc within our hearts.

God’s Word Prepares Our Hearts for Peaceful Nights

Still, as followers of Jesus, we don’t have to go to sleep worried if fear is going to startle us awake in the middle of the night, or stay up all night so it doesn’t have an opportunity to alarm us.

Instead, we can be prepared for the enemy’s vicious attacks by preparing our hearts in advance by feeding on God’s word. It’s the best late-night snack to have just before bedtime.

As Hebrews 5:14 explains, feeding on God’s word prepares us, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

We can look to God’s Word when facing fear, as Psalm 34:4 assures, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”

The following are scriptures for when fear shows up in the middle of the night, verses to calm our racing hearts and restore God’s peace to our sleeping hours.

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1. Scriptures to calm the fear of death.

Many people are awakened in the middle of the night, fearing death, fearful of losing their health, through an illness or accident, or a deadly virus, crime, or disaster. With all the tragedies taking place in the world today, the enemy has a lot of fearful incidents to point out to stir up fear in our hearts and minds. But even with all his ammunition of terror to throw at us, he knows that whereas many fear death, held in slavery to it, Jesus has freed those who follow Him from it.

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” - Hebrews 2:14-15

The enemy of our souls doesn’t want us to be free from the fear of death because he knows we overcome his hold over us when we have no fear of it. Freedom from the fear of death overcomes the enemy, and he has no way to prevent it from doing so.

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” - Revelation 12:11

As the Apostle Paul reassures us, we don’t stop living when we leave earth, but begin everlasting life, so there is no need to fear death. The fear of death has nothing over us.

“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” - 2 Corinthians 5:8

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2. Scriptures to calm the fear of the unknown.

Most of us don’t know what wars, disasters, government collapses, and more are coming in the world, and for those who don’t know Christ, it’s a reason to stay up at night.

However, for those of us who know Him, we don’t have to fear the terror and fear of the unknown because God reassures us He will rescue, protect, and be with us in trouble. We are under His care over us, no matter what horrific things occur in the world.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

‘Because He loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” - Psalm 91:1-16

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3. Scriptures to silence the fear of falling away.

News of prominent Christians saying they’re leaving the faith causes some fellow believers to stumble, especially those who may not be well-grounded in the Word of God. It causes many to question their faith and some to become fearful of them, too, falling away from God.

As well, some believers are fearful that their sins, of not being perfect, will cost them their Salvation. But Jesus doesn’t want us to live in fear of losing our faith. As Jesus said:

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.” - John 10:28

God reassures us that we belong to Him, and even if we go through a time when we have fears and doubts, He is with us, helping us, and holding us up.

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” - Psalm 37:23-24

Even if at times, we may feel unsure or stumble a bit in our faith, the Lord is faithful to us and wants us to know He doesn’t give up on us.

“To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.” - Jude 1:24

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4. Scriptures to calm the fear of losing everything.

The enemy likes to wake us up, afraid that we’ll lose everything on earth, relentlessly poking us to be fearful of losing our income, homes, reputations, and more. But because we have a future home to look forward to, and don’t put our worth in worldly treasures, it doesn’t matter. Things on earth aren’t worth us losing sleep over. As Jesus teaches us:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” - Matthew 6:19-20

As well, our hearts are calmed by knowing that our true treasures in this life are safe and secure in heaven.

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” - Philippians 3:8

We don’t need to worry or be afraid, because God assures us in His Word that He will provide for us all the days of our lives.

“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” - Psalm 37:25

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5. Scriptures to calm the fear of growing older.

With rampant ageism and a shaky economy, seniors and even younger adults who are fearful of growing older are waking up in the middle of the night, afraid. But God isn’t like men and women who look down on or abandon those who grow old.

Rather, it’s just the opposite, because God treasures us at every age in our lives, young, old, and in between.

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” - Isaiah 46:4

God wants us to rest assured, especially during nighttime, that He is with us as we grow older, to renew our strength, increase our power, and help us to soar. He will not forget us or leave us hopeless.