🌿 “When I Am Afraid… What Do I Do?”

👋 Start

(Walk up calmly, smile, look around the room)

Hi everyone, [My name is Anjelikka] 😊

Let me ask you something…

Who here has ever been afraid of something?

(Raise your own hand slowly — encourage them)

(Pause and look around, smile at responses)

That’s a lot of hands!

😄 Warm-Up (Relatable Fears)

Let’s see what kinds of things people are afraid of…

Are you afraid of:

the dark? 🌙
spiders? 🕷️
thunderstorms? ⛈️

(Point gently to kids so they can respond then, nod and affirm)

Yes… those are very common fears.

😂 Some Fears Sound Funny…

Now listen to this…

Did you know there are hundreds of things people can be afraid of?

(Lean in slightly, curious tone)

Some people have something called Acerophobia.

👉 That’s the fear of sour foods!

(Act it out: pretend to eat something sour)

“Ahhh! Too sour!” 😄

Others have Catoptrophobia.

👉 That’s the fear of mirrors!

(Pretend to look into a mirror, then jump back slightly)

“Whoa! What was that?!” 😄

And some people are afraid of:

👉 chopsticks
👉 numbers
👉 even certain fabrics!

(Look around playfully)

Can you imagine being afraid of your shirt? 😄

👉 These might sound funny to us…

(Pause, soften tone)

…but for those people…

👉 the fear is very real.

🔗 Important Transition

And that’s something very important:

👉 Even when a fear doesn’t seem scary to you…
👉 it can feel very real to someone else.

(Pause — let that sink in)

🧠 When the Mind Plays Tricks

And sometimes…

fear doesn’t come from something real…

👉 it comes from our imagination.

(Slow down, storytelling tone)

Like when it’s night time…

everything is quiet…
the lights are low…

you walk past a mirror…

…and suddenly you feel like—

👉 “Wait… what was that?!” 😳

(Quick look back over shoulder)

Even though… it’s just you!

Or when you’re lying in bed…

and you think—

👉 “There might be something under my bed…”

(Pause… look serious… then soften)

…but there’s nothing there.

👉 Even imaginary fear can feel very real.

🎯 Fear Quiz (Energy Lift)

Alright! Let’s wake everyone up again 😄

We’re going to play a quick game!

I’ll say a big word…

👉 You guess what the fear is!

(Encourage shouting answers)

Arachno-phobia → ?
🕷️ The fear of Spiders!

Ophidio-phobia → ?
🐍 The fear of Snakes!

Acro-phobia → ?
⛰️ The fear of Heights!

Astra-phobia → ?
⛈️ The fear of Thunder and lightning!

Cyno-phobia → ?
🐶 The fear of Dogs!

Claustro-phobia → ?
🚪 The fear of Tight spaces!

Myso-phobia → ?
🦠 The fear of Germs!

Aero-phobia → ?
✈️ The fear of Flying!

Trypo-phobia → ?
🕳️ The fear of Tiny holes!

(React with them if they go “ewww!” 😄)

Agora-phobia → ?
👥 Crowds or open spaces!

👉 Wow… that’s a LOT of fears!

(Pause, smile)

🤔 Bigger Fears (Tone Shift)

But now let’s think about something deeper…

Some fears are small…

…but some are bigger.

Some people are afraid of:

being alone
losing someone they love
or even… dying

(Slow, gentle tone)

Even adults feel that.

💛 Personal Moment

Let me tell you something about me…

Sometimes… I feel afraid too.

(Pause — connect)

Especially at night…
or during a storm…

Everything is quiet…

…and suddenly…

👉 small noises feel BIG.

(Tap chest lightly)

My heart starts beating fast…

…and my mind starts thinking—

👉 “What if something bad happens?”

(Look at kids)

Have you ever felt like that?

(Pause for responses)

🧠 Key Truth

Here’s something really important:

👉 Fear can grow if we keep it inside.

It starts small…

…but then it gets bigger…

…and bigger…

👉 until it feels like we are trapped.

(Hands slightly closed, like holding something)

Like we’re stuck inside fear.

👉 But God doesn’t want us to live like that.

🙋 Question Time (Bible Section)

Now let’s see what God says.

❓1. Why shouldn’t we be afraid?

👉 What do you think?

(Pause)

📖 “Do not fear, for I am with you…” — Isaiah 41:10

KJV ¹⁰ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. WEB ¹⁰ Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

👉 That means:

✨ God is with you—no matter what.

❓2. Can we stop fear on our own?

👉 What do you think?

(No)

📖 “I will help you.” — Isaiah 41:13

KJV ¹³ For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. WEB ¹³ For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’

👉 We don’t do it alone—God helps us.

❓3. What happens if we keep our fear?

📖 “…you did not receive a spirit of fear…” — Romans 8:15

KJV ¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. WEB ¹⁵ For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

👉 Fear grows…
👉 but God wants us free—not trapped.

❓4. What removes fear?

📖 “Perfect love drives out fear.” — 1 John 4:18

KJV ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. WEB ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

👉 Who has perfect love?

(Wait)

👉 Jesus.

(Emphasise slowly)

His love is stronger than:

scary thoughts
real fears
even big fears

🙏 What Can We Do?

So what do we do when we feel afraid?

We talk to Jesus

"Jesus… I feel scared…"

We remember He is with you

👉 You are not alone

We choose to trust Him

👉 Even if the fear is still there

What happens when we trust God?

📖 “Those who trust Him lack nothing.” — Psalm 34:9

KJV ⁹ O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. WEB ⁹ Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.

👉 God will take care of you
👉 He will give you what you need

🌅 Big Hope (Gentle Ending)

Even the biggest fear…

like death…

doesn’t have to scare us.

Because Jesus gives us hope.

💬 Say It Together

(Smile, invite participation)

Let’s all say this together:

👉 “When I am afraid… I will trust in Jesus.”

(Repeat slowly — maybe twice)

🙏 Prayer

(Hands together, gentle tone)

Dear Jesus,
Sometimes we feel afraid.
Thank You for being with us.
Help us to trust You
and not let fear take over.
Amen.