When the trials of life unexpectedly come knocking at our door, the last thing we may be thinking about is joy. Yet, the Bible calls us to have joy in life’s most turbulent moments (Jm. 1:2-3). How is this possible? Can a Christian really smile, pray, rejoice, and serve even as the weight of the world presses in?

Yeah, I get it. Anxiety is real. Life gets tough, trials hit, pressure mounts, and our flesh takes over- before we know it, we’re overwhelmed with worry. Thankfully, for those of us who trust in Jesus, we don’t have to wander aimlessly when it comes to anxiety.

Fear is found all over the scriptures. Both the Old and New Testaments are packed with stories and examples of God’s people continually being forced to choose between two different kinds of fear: the fear of the Lord or the fear of man.