Fear in 2026

Kath Henry
8 hours ago
3 min read

In the last 4 years, Isaiah 41:10 has been the most searched for verse on google (You Version)

It reads

“So do not fear, for I am with you,

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (NIV) Living in this time carries reason to be anxious at many levels, global, local and personal. I have to say I am thankful that it seems people are looking to the bible to find a way to respond to all the uncertainties with something other than fear. A fear response has its place, but it becomes unhelpful when we find ourselves immobilised by fear. I was recently speaking to someone who felt so discouraged and fearful for the world as they tried to keep up with the latest news feed that they were starting to despair. They told me that they had to change focus from reading the news to praying. Realigning with God’s heart for them personally and for the world, gave them the strength to move from fear to hope. Isaiah gives us 4 key spiritual practices in these verses that can help us on our journey from fear to hope.

1. God is with us –

2. God is God and we are not –

3. God is our help –

4. God will uphold us – God is with us - Practice becoming aware of God’s loving presence, through prayer.

Brother Lawrence lived in the 17^th century and is perhaps best known for his writings on practicing the presence of God. He considered prayer a continuous conversation with God and recognised that practicing becoming more aware of God’s loving presence reduced fear. God is God and we are not- Practice doing small acts with great love and allow internal anxious thoughts to become still.

I can easily feel overwhelmed by the complexity of world issues and even local issues can leave me feeling powerless to contribute to any significant change. We must remember that each small act each of us can do counts. We cannot control outcomes, but we can choose to seek to become less anxious humans, the psalms speak of the practice of being still and holding the calming knowledge that God is our anchor. “Be still and know that God is God” God is our help – Practice placing trust in God.

Reading the bible in a way that allows the words to connect with our own life is what the early Christians called Lectio Divina. They believed that meditating on God’s word helped increase trust and reduce fear.

Timothy Keller did a great podcast series of meditations on trusting God in difficult times. https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/trusting-god-in-difficult-times-habakkuk-1/ God will uphold us – The practice of letting God hold us.

The writer of the psalms understood the need to cling to God. Psalm 63:8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 139:10 “Even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 73:23 “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand

So, let’s cling to God and talk with God. Let’s pay attention and notice God’s presence in the ordinary every day and find the next small thing we can do with great love. May fear be transformed within us to trust and hope in God.

One of God's girls. Previously co-Senior Pastor of Northridge Vineyard Church in Thornleigh, Sydney with husband Phil. Currently chaplain at Hope 103.2. Mum to Beth (Mother love to Beth's husband Sean) and Sam.