So much has been said about being free from anxieties, fears. Looking at it by a merely physiological point of view, anxiety states (i.e. fear, panic, nervous tension… you figured it out, aren’t you?), are just noxious. Even just chemically. And that alone, it would be enough to remark the importance, the need of getting rid of fear.

But we have the best guidance, as we know, in the Bible. So these are better reasons:

1) 1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love.

By the word “restraint” there is a footnote: checking; correction; punishment. Lit., lopping off. The application of this text, checking the context, is about "freeness of speech in the day of judgment". Anyway, the use of the term restraint, together with the idea of checking, correction, punishment, lopping off, recalls to my mind an image: the straitjacket. I do not alter the meaning of the text if I say that fear, in general, paralyzes us. This is a fact humanly, generally aknowledged. Fear is like a straitjacket: it blocks us, curbs us, it is a handicap. Think about relationships with other people, or in the congregation. I'm not talking about things against habits or propriety standards, or even moral rules. I'm talking about that things, big or small, that do happen at a communication level. It can't be good for us to wear a mental straitjacket, something exercising a restraint on us, castigating ourselves, our nature, our personality. But how can we solve this? To be perfect in love..! Ah, how much should we say about this… I will just say this: if love is founded on principles (agàpe) of pure altruism, dedicated to giving, to the sake of the neighbor, how could we feel fear at the same time? All of our deeds and words will be dedicated to good, as much as it depends on us, therefore there's really nothing to fear, consequences or responsibility for us.

Then the question shifts: we don't just have to try not to feel fear, or to overcome it, but also and mostly we have to refine our ego, making our thoughts desires deeds feelings words be good. Good in a wider sense; morally good.

As Colossians 3:9-10 says: …Strip off the old personality with its practices, and clothe yourselves with the new [personality], which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it. Than is a continuos process, a renewing oneself, getting each time closer to the human ideal, perfection: being made in God's image (shadow). 

But back to fear:

2) Hebrews 13:5-6 – …For he has said: “I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you.” So that we may be of good courage and say: “Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Another aspect of the fruit of the spirit that annihilates fear is faith. A grain of faith can move mountains, let's always remember it. So if we truly have faith, we'll say to our fears: "Go and throw yourself into the sea!" because we know for sure that Jehovah will help us. This is so useful in the small, daily challenges. It doesn't only apply to persecution by men, that even if they could kill us, would we have lost everything? Everything we have comes from God, and as he gave it us once, he can give twice (remember Job). Refine our faith too, then. Strive to behave as Hannah: after throwing her anguish in front of God and receiving the Eli's blessing "the woman proceeded to go on her way and to eat, and her face became self-concerned no more." To rely on Jehovah means not only open him our heart about our worries, but also "throw our burden" upon him. If after doing so we keep on feeling that burden, there must be something wrong!

In the end:

3) Luke 12:25 – Who of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his life span?

The truth is that there's no use being worried. It doesn't definitely change the reality, and it doesn't make us more qualified facing difficulties. It just makes us feel bad. Considering this point too will help us to be freed from our fears a little more.

To conclude, strive to increasingly follow the ways of love and to increase our faith in Jehovah, perceiving him for what he is: a real person, a father who cares about us and who has the power and the will to help us. Then our steps will become really free and light.