In the wake of a violent outburst near my home in Philadelphia, Penn., a friend asked me a daunting question: “Should we be afraid?” I thought of every possible reason to say no. But in the end, I had no encouraging words to offer.

Have you ever been in a position like this one?

Maybe you don’t fear your own safety, but you fear loneliness and isolation. When you walk your dog after work each night, you can’t help but notice the friends, couples and families who stroll by. You make eye contact and crack a smile, but inside you long for someone to join you on your evening walk. You pause and ask yourself a familiar question: “Should I be afraid?”

Or maybe you fear your financial future. Your daughter’s tuition payments have run you dry. And now, you’re searching for the means to survive another month. After paying your latest bill, you turn to your spouse and ask, “Should we be afraid?”

The next time I face situations like these ones, I want to be prepared. I want to immediately turn to Scripture for peace and assurance. And I want to seek God for the strength to rise above my stress, fear and anxiety.

If you’re overwhelmed with fear today, you can meditate on God’s Word and call out to him for comfort. These three prayers will get you started:

1. Lord, give me confidence when I worry.
   Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be determined and confident. Do not be afraid of them. Your God, the Lord himself, will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you (GNTD).”
2. Lord, give me strength when I feel weak.
   Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (GNTD).
3. Lord, give me peace when I am afraid.
   Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (GNTD).