Franklin D. Roosevelt is reported to have said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” Similarly, Paul says to Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV)

The common thread between these two quotes is the recognition of fear’s presence but not its importance. A careful reading of 2 Timothy 1:7 reveals that Paul does not rebuke Christians for the presence of fear; he merely clarifies that this fear did not originate from God. Fear is a result of external factors intermingled with internal fortitude. A pilot’s fear of falling is no less present than a passenger’s; the difference is in their heightened trust in the laws of physics, the engineering of the plane, and, ultimately, their training. Pilots seem unafraid because their “faith” in something else (i.e., physics, engineering, and training) overwhelms their fear.

Rather than rebuking Timothy for his apparent fears, Paul provides us with three tools to help us overcome our fears.

God has given us a spirit of power.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16). Salvation from our greatest fear (the second death, Rev 21:8) has been provided to us by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 1:10)

God has given us a spirit of love.

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5). In those moments when the darkness of fear creeps nearby, let us never forget the magnitude of love shown for us. “Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

God has given us a spirit of self-control.

Interestingly, the word translated as “sound mind” is sophronismos, a term unique to 2 Timothy 1:7. However, the verb form (phroneo) of this noun is a favorite of Paul’s, appearing multiple times in every letter attributed to him. Paul’s use of this word indicates a sound mind in the sense of self-control, not of sanity. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

Paul provides a bonus tool in Romans 8:14-15:

God has given us a spirit of belonging.

In yet another admonition to not allow fear to control us, Paul says this to the church in Rome: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:14–15)

Fear may come knocking, but it doesn’t have to take up residence in the hearts of God’s people. Christ equips us not merely to endure fear but to overcome it—with power, love, a sound mind, and the deep assurance that we belong to the family of God. So when fear rises, let it be a reminder—not of our weakness, but of the strength, love, discipline, and identity we have through the Spirit.