Understanding Fear

Someone once said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” I love this quote and try very hard to practice it in my daily life. Some would say that fear is “a lack of faith.” Some might even agree with that assessment, but I absolutely do not. Fear is simply proof that we are human and that we have human emotions. It is true that fear does not come from God. In II Timothy 1:7, Paul confirms this by saying, “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind.” It is important to note that Paul did not say, “If you feel fear, then you lack faith.”

Fear is just one of those inevitable things that accompanies the condition of being human. No person on earth has so much faith that they never feel fear. Faith in that quantity is certainly something to aspire to and pray for, but if in this world, we have to accept that we are going to experience fear.

The real issue is – how do we handle that fear? Do we let it consume us? Do we lock ourselves inside our homes and deprive ourselves of all human contact. Do we refuse to trust anyone, thereby not enjoying relationships and fellowship with other people? I hope not because none of these methods work, and they all eventually cause as much pain and suffering as the fear.

The best antidote I have found for fear is simple and painless. It is prayer, and realizing that God is ever-present, and that He never leaves me alone. Through prayer and meditation, God can help quieten my worries and calm my fears. I remind myself that there is nothing more powerful than He is. It takes a few minutes for the peace to come. The force of fear and the wheels in my human mind are like a train, and they take a while to stop. But they do stop, and a feeling of security and warmth that God gives covers me like a warm, soft blanket.

Lastly, never buy into the “Fear is lack of faith” mentality. Don’t ever allow another human being convince you that your faith is lacking just because you have human emotions. Your quantity of faith is exactly that – yours – and it is a matter to be dealt with between you and the Giver of Faith. No one else need be involved.