The prophet Daniel was steadfast in his walk with God. He had unshakable faith, yet look at his reaction to learning about the end times:
"As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me." --- Daniel 7:15 NASB
"At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself." -- Daniel 7:28 NASB
"And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king's business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it." --- Daniel 8:27
Upon hearing about the end times, the prophet Daniel was sick of heart for many days. If it affects Daniel this way, how will it affect us? As the end times unfold and the book of Daniel is "unsealed," we too will be sick of heart and even to the point of dispair.
However, the Lord will sustain us, and with His help, we will rise to the occasion. We will move beyond this dispair, and as we draw closer to God, we will be able to steady the fearful emotions of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" ---- Psalms 56:3-4
Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
--- Psalms 42:5 NASB
According to scripture, the book of Daniel was sealed until the end times:
"He said, Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 10 Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand." ---Daniel 12:9-10
The end times are upon us. Will the book of Daniel now bring greater understanding to the end times than previous generations? I think the answer is yes.
To overcome anxiety and fear, we need courage, self-control, and especially love.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
We cannot allow an event to control our emotions.
We should rest in the Lord knowing that He has control over any event.
We cannot live in fear.
Fear can be conquered by keeping our eyes on Jesus, not the event.
Remember the Apostle Peter and how he walked on water
"but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink." (Matthew 14:29-30)
When we truly love God, we have no fear of man.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
--- 1 John 4:18
"In God, whose
word I praise, in God I have put my
trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can mere man do to me?"
--Psalms
56:4
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
--2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
Being courageous is a choice.
We cannot be cowards.
In the end times, we have to rise to the occasion and find courage.
There is no other option.
The Bible links the cowardly with unbelieving, murderers,
sorcerers, and idolaters.
So in summation:
In these last days, there will be times of consternation that will, at times, overwhelm us, but the LORD will sustain us.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
We need to remember that courage is a decision harnessed by self-control and love to manage and overcome fear and anxiety.