Overcoming Fear of Speaking in Public: Encouragement from the Bible

Do you get anxious about speaking in public? You know—the butterflies in your stomach. As you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to get up to speak, your heart rate goes up, you breathe heavier, maybe sweat from nervousness. I’ve been there. If your goal is overcoming fear of speaking in public, I list five steps you can take to that end as well as the one secret I learned that has really helped me.

First though, in addition to looking at why fear of public speaking is so common,  I’d like to share two Bible passages from men who God called as leaders. By their own and human standards, they didn’t feel adequate.

The first two passages that immediately come to my mind include the names of two Bible characters: Moses and Jeremiah.

the call of moses

Exodus 3:9-14

9 Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

11 Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 He said, “Certainly I will be with you. This will be the token to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

13 Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Exodus 4:10

Moses said to Yahweh (Hebrew Name for God), “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”

Moses felt inadequate saying that he was never eloquent and that he was slow of speech and tongue. Someone else in the Bible said something similar to the Lord…

the call of jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:4-10

4 Now Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.
Before you were born, I sanctified you.
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”

7 But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.

8 Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh.

9 Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Then Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

The common denominator regarding both situations includes God’s response: “I am with you…” or “I will be with you.” In both cases, He assures each of them of His presence as they go and speak. These two passages can apply both to public speeches and private, individual speaking assignments.

Why Fear of Public speaking is so common

In short, most of us care deeply about what others think. Often, this fear stems from being judged, criticized, or even laughed at—especially in front of a large group.

Low confidence in our own abilities can also contribute, as we saw in the stories of Moses and Jeremiah. This shows that fear of speaking is a timeless struggle, one that spans from biblical times to today.

Common reasons this fear appears include:

• Judgments or criticisms --which Moses was worried about

• Lacking confidence in personal abilities – as Jeremiah expressed…

• Personality traits or past experiences with anxiety

• Unfamiliarity with the audience (or in some cases familiarity-- or knowing who will be there).

• Worrying about failing to honor God with our words or message

The good news is that we can turn these fears over to God and trust Him to guide us. Yet, as we’ll see in the next section, there are practical steps we can take to prepare ourselves for speaking engagements.

Secret to Overcoming Fear of Speaking in Public

In addition to the steps that I’m about to share with you on how to overcome fear of speaking in public, I want to mention that what has helped me the most is preparing and familiarizing myself with my topic and speech as much as possible.

Extensive preparation is key.

One of my professors during a speech class in Bible college stated one of his principles that resonated with me the most:

Less scared when prepared.

Now just to be clear, it does take a lot of time and effort. You need to be dedicated. I would write notes or an outline and go over the document many times. 

It's a good idea to pursue an extensive time period before the speech to get everything ready. In other words, make clear that you need to know well in advance when your speech is scheduled to give yourself ample time to prepare. It won't help to find out you have to give a speech tomorrow and scramble the night before to get things done. At least in my case, for the most part, that hasn't been a problem.

I consider significant amount of practice and preparation in relation to each assignment to be key to overcoming fear of speaking in public. In this way, I am able to maintain more consistent eye contact with my audience, and as a result it feels much more natural than if I simply write an outline and read through those notes when I speak.

In addition, whenever possible, it's best to keep speeches, Bible messages, etc. as succinct as you can make it (saying as much in fewer words). In that way, you can prepare much more efficiently and proficiently as well as feel more confident about the idea of delivering the speech. 

I have found that giving a 15 to 20-minute sermon is much less overwhelming for me than trying to speak for a whole hour. 

5 Steps to Overcoming Fear of Speaking in Public: From a Christian Perspective

You can follow all the general principles about public speaking, but as a Christian, if you're not relying on God's Holy Spirit, such an approach is bound to come back to haunt you in some way. It's important to renew and maintain your focus on the Lord through the process of preparation as well as in the moments before, during, and after your speech.

1. Focus on the promise of God that He is and will be with you.

Find inspiration by meditating on the above passages related to Moses and Jeremiah. I would do this prior to a speaking assignment.

2. Pray and ask for wisdom.

As James 1:5 makes clear, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. It sounds simple, but asking God for help and getting other people to pray puts you in more of a relaxed position because you are letting God take control. You're relying on Him--not yourself.

3. Practice thoroughly.

If you need to use notes, that’s okay. Not everyone is a natural when it comes to extemporaneous speaking. I go over the notes many times to familiarize myself with the speech. Then, when I get up and speak, I don’t look like I am reading my script word for word. As mentioned above, I’m able to maintain quite a bit of eye contact. As I am preparing, I ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance, resting on His promise that as I acknowledge Him in all my ways, He will make my paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). It's important to prepare on a spiritual level first and foremost.

4. Exercise.

I don’t just mean physical exertion. Use relaxation techniques as well. Those types of exercises may involve deep, rhythmic breathing from the diaphragm. Rapidly breathing from your upper chest/lungs can prolong the anxiety. Breathing from the diaphragm activates the parasympathetic nervous system. See the Harvard Health article below for a further explanation.

In addition, physical exertion like running can help with anxiety as well.

As you do these exercises, turn that anxiety over to the Lord. See the Scripture list below for more verses to meditate on when dealing with that fear.

5. Find Ways to Engage With Your Audience Prior to and in Your Speech Including Use of Humor, Relatable Elements, etc.

What has helped me in the process of overcoming fear of public speaking is getting the audience laughing. Such engagement with my audience provides a sense of relief, if you know what I mean. Reflect on a humorous story you can use or lighthearted situation you can remember that will relate to your message. Also, even prior to your speech, sermon, testimony, or whatever it may be, you might find it helpful to interact with at least some people who encourage you with a smile or some sort of affirmation.

Scriptures to Meditate on When Fear of Public Speaking Arises

Here are Bible passages you can return to when fear resurfaces:

Old Testament

• Exodus 4:11–12 – God reminds Moses that He is the one who gives ability and will help him speak
• Psalm 56:3–4 – Choosing trust in God when fear arises
• Isaiah 26:3--keeping your mind focused on the Lord--trusting in Him
• Isaiah 41:10 – God’s promise to strengthen, help, and uphold His people

New Testament

• Matthew 10:19–20 – God’s Spirit gives words when His people speak
• 2 Timothy 1:7 – God gives power, love, and self-discipline—not fear
• Philippians 4:6-7: Replace anxiety with prayer and thanksgiving
• Colossians 4:6 – Speaking with grace and wisdom
• Hebrews 13:6 – Confidence rooted in the Lord as helper
• 1 Peter 5:7 says, cast your anxiety on the Lord, because He cares for you.

frequently asked questions about fear of public speaking (christian perspective)

what does the bible say about fear of public speaking?

The Bible does not specifically mention “public speaking anxiety,” but it speaks often about fear. In passages like 2 Timothy 1:7, believers are reminded that God gives a spirit of power, love, and self-control—not fear. Scripture shows that fear is a common human experience, even among faithful servants of God. The solution is not self-confidence alone, but God-confidence—trusting that He equips those He calls.

why did moses fear speaking?

In Exodus 3–4, Moses expressed hesitation when God called him to confront Pharaoh. He said he was “slow of speech and tongue,” suggesting insecurity about his speaking ability. His fear was not rebellion as much as self-doubt. Yet God did not withdraw the calling—He promised His presence and even provided Aaron to assist him. The lesson is clear: God’s calling is not limited by our perceived weaknesses. 

How can christians overcome stage fright?

Christians overcome stage fright by combining spiritual preparation with practical preparation. Prayer, meditation on Scripture, and remembering God’s presence bring peace to the heart. At the same time, practice, organization, and rehearsal calm the mind. When focus shifts from “How am I performing?” to “How can I serve this audience?” fear often decreases. Shift your focus from performance to the message God has called you to share-- something I've learned to do when preaching sermons. Over time, confidence grows through faithful obedience.

is anxiety a sign of weak faith?

Not necessarily. Many strong believers—including prophets and apostles—experienced fear at times. Anxiety becomes harmful when it drives us away from God instead of toward Him. Bringing fear to God in prayer, rather than hiding it, is actually an expression of faith. The Psalmist says in Psalm 56:3:

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” (WEB)

As Biblical characters and their stories reveal to us, growth often happens through the very struggles we wish would disappear.

Helpful resources / recommended reading

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