Proverbs 14.26:

In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.

Not trembling, confidence.

Then Proverbs 29.25:

The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

I think we don’t use the word “fear” often because we want to flatter ourselves. But at bottom, peer pressure is fear. Wanting someone’s respect is to fear that person. You live by that person’s appraisal.

Notice that the opposite of fearing God is not to be confident in His presence but to have no respect for Him at all. Proverbs 14.2:

Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.

So the issues here are the same as what Paul refers to in Romans 2:

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Jesus confronted the Pharisees over the same issue. John 5.44:

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

You fear the one who you acknowledge can give you glory.