A Gentle Reminder: Get Up And Do Not Be Afraid

Fear is powerful. It is unremitting. It is fierce. It is real.

Fear disrupts and disables.

While a few of our most compelling nightmares may eventually find their way to us, most never do.

“I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened” – Mark Twain

As a parent, I can’t imagine a day without some degree of it.

Concern for their safety, anxiety about their future.

Of course, I cling most desperately to these same fears for myself.

All too often, the exact source of our fears is unknown. Or they’re simply too deeply hidden for us to fully embrace them.

But that only makes their resistance to logic, mindfulness, and prayer even more potent, and our attempts to cast them aside ever more futile.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me” – Psalm 23

I was reminded the other day that scripture has a lot to say about facing, and turning aside, our fears. Some say that there are 365 instances from Genesis to Revelation, but I think that that’s apocryphal (no, I haven’t actually counted).

But here is a terrific list compiled by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

Read it, savor it.

Incorporate one or more into your day.

And pray.

Get Up And Do Not Be Afraid!

I’ll leave you now with one of my favorites, at the corner where love and fear meet – and love prevails:

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love” – 1 John 4:18 

I pray that you can face your deepest fear today.

Peace

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain