Fear shapes every human life. From the moment we are born, fear comes pre-installed in our souls—and because of it, we spend our lives running. We run from pain, loss, exposure, conflict, stillness, and ultimately from God Himself, seeking refuge in comforts that promise relief but only leave scars. In this sermon, we confront a crucial question: Have we misunderstood fear entirely?

Drawing from Proverbs and the wider testimony of Scripture, this message shows that not all fear is destructive. There is a fear that does not paralyze but stabilizes, a fear that does not drive us away from God but propels us toward Him. The fear of the Lord, Scripture teaches, is not the enemy of joy—it is the pathway to it.

Step by step, this sermon traces a biblical progression: the fear of the Lord produces unshakable confidence; that confidence teaches us where to run when life collapses; running to God yields true rest; rest gives birth to a hopeful future; and hope culminates in enduring joy. Far from being opposed, fear and delight are woven together in God’s design for worship and the Christian life.

Ultimately, this sermon leads us to Christ—the One who feared God perfectly, trusted the Father completely, rested even in the storm, and endured the cross for the joy set before Him. In Him, what we could not achieve has been secured for us. And by His Spirit, we are invited to grow into a life marked not by frantic fear, but by confident, restful, hope-filled joy that transforms both our worship and our witness.