When Fear Comes to Visit Your Child: Overcoming Fear in 4 Steps

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If your child struggles with fear, I’d love to share a few ways you can help them overcome it in four simple steps.

PONDER

Talk with your child.

Have you ever felt afraid? You’re not the only one. Fear is no fun, but I promise you you’re not alone. Lots of people feel afraid, for lots of different reasons. Whenever fears come, we might wish they’d just go away— but guess what? We can do something even better. We can take them to the God of the entire universe, who cares so much about everything we’re facing. He even has some very helpful instructions for how to turn fear into peace!

PRAY

Pray with your child. 

God, as we’re adventuring and feel afraid of unexpected things, help us to take care and be safe, but also to remember that you have given us a spirit of boldness. Even when we don’t feel brave, you can strengthen our hearts to take the next step. You made us to do great things— but you don’t ask us to do them alone. You stay with us every step of the way, and give us everything we need. Thank you for being a God who is close!

PAUSE

Pause for a moment with your child. Take deep breaths together or read this poem.

There’s a funny sometimes hidden thing,
My stomach feels all tied with string.
Or shivers running up my spine,
And everything’s just not- quite- fine . . .
(you might say that I’m afraid)
So I feel like heading home right now,
I’m thinking, thinking, thinking, wow—
Of all the things that could go wrong
The list grows longer, longer, strong . . .
(you might say that I’m afraid)
But, God, you say you’re stronger still;
I feel you ask me if I will
Invite you in and venture on
Find strength in you and we’ll keep on . . .
(you might say I’m not alone)
And I’m growing, seeing, as I learn—
Fear comes my way but I can turn
And say I’ll do it anyway:
The King of the world beside me stays!
(and with Him, I am brave)
So when I feel I’d like to hide
I turn my eyes on hope and light.
I want to live with you so bold,
This world of yours, bravely behold.

PLAY

Lead your child in play. 

Transformation Art

Philippians 4:6–8 gives beautiful instruction for how to transform worry, fear, and anxiety into peace!

Together, list everything true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy that you see. For very young kids,

you can simplify this by saying, “Let’s list all of the amazing things we see, or all of the things around us that we like.” This invites kids to shift their focus from fear to gratitude— not to ignore fear, but to place it securely with God, draw close to Him, and press on together.

For a visual representation of transforming fear, invite kids to create a colorful design with markers on a blank piece of paper. Then, color a thick layer of solid black crayon, and let kids use a coin’s edge, pen cap, or other object to etch fun designs into the black layer, revealing life beneath. You can also save time by purchasing pre- made scratch- art pages.

Reflection: 

What has worked well to help you and your child overcome fear? What hasn’t worked as well? Are there any ways you can think of to help them transform how they think about fear?

If you enjoyed this post, check out A Pocketful of Wonder: 50 Hands-On Adventures for Kids to Discover God’s Creationby Amanda Dykes. We love how Amanda has both written and illustrated this beautiful, fun, and family-friendly adventure guide to help kids understand God through His wonderful creations.

Amanda Dykes‘s debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, is the winner of the prestigious 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, and the winner of an INSPY Award. She’s also the author of Christy Award-finalists All the Lost Places, Yours Is the Night,and Set the Stars Alight. Find her online at AmandaDykes.com.

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