When Fear Creeps In, Remember This Truth

Jesus didn’t just come to teach good lessons or set a moral example—he came to defeat the enemy once and for all. The Bible is clear: “The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8 NLT). That’s not a small statement. That’s a declaration of victory.

So what exactly are the “works of the devil”?

The enemy’s strategy is subtle but destructive. He messes with your mind, planting thoughts of worry, guilt, resentment, anger, fear, and confusion. He whispers lies: “You’re worthless. You’ll never change. You’re alone. You have no purpose.” If you’ve ever felt chained to those thoughts, you’ve experienced the devil’s handiwork.

But here’s the good news—Jesus came to set you free.

The devil’s favorite weapon is fear. But God’s Word tells us, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18 NIV). And since God is love (1 John 4:16), we know fear never comes from him.

Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus destroyed Satan’s power and stripped him of his greatest weapon: death. Hebrews 2:14-15 says, “Jesus took on flesh and blood to be like them. He did this so that by dying he would destroy the one who had power over death (that is, the devil). In this way he would free those who were slaves all their lives because they were afraid of dying” (GW).

That means as a believer, you can face death—and any other fear—with hope. When you grieve, you don’t grieve like the world does. Yes, you feel the sting of loss. Yes, you miss your loved ones. But, you grieve with hope because you know the grave is not the end. If they trusted in Christ, you will see them again in heaven, the home you were created for from the beginning.

And that hope changes everything.

So the next time fear creeps into your heart—whether it’s fear of death, fear of the future, or fear of failure—remember this: it does not come from God. Fear is a tool of the enemy, but Jesus already broke the enemy’s power. When you feel it rising, turn to the Lord in prayer and invite his perfect love to wash over you. His love always wins, because the victory has already been secured.