It has been said that the brave man dies once but a coward dies a thousand deaths. If that is so, I must have died millions of times, for there are so many things that scare me.

Our Own Fears
Looking at another’s trials, it can be so easy to say to him or her “You have nothing to fear as long as you put your trust in the Lord,” which, of course, is very true. However, things that genuinely “scare” people will rarely depart from them just from hearing a few good words of advice, regardless of how true they may be.

As a young boy, I was always fearful of these very real and scary monsters which would reside underneath my bed and wake up every night just before my bedtime. I would see them! I would actually think I would see at least one set of eyes glowing and watching me from underneath my bed, ready to pounce on me if I didn’t get into bed fast enough. I have no idea where these thoughts were coming from, but they were there. So I would always run really fast and leap onto my bed so the monsters couldn’t reach out and grab my leg and eat me.

My parents would tell me time and time again that there was nothing there, but I was convinced that the monsters only hid from them whenever they physically tried to show me by actually looking for the monsters themselves. The only thing that comforted me was that hallway light. My door had to be left open, or, regardless of what I was told, those monsters would climb right up the side of the bed and get me! I wouldn’t even think about getting in my bed or even entering my room at night without that hallway light burning brightly…as a child, everyone knew that the monsters couldn’t come out in the light!! So no matter what my parents tried to say, my only comfort came from having that hall light on for me.

One fear replaces another
Eventually I grew out of this worry, but the theme remained. I was scared of the class bully in seventh grade, and no matter what my parents said, I was still petrified of dealing with him. The only way I finally got over my paralyzing fear of facing him was by facing him. One day he tormented me, as he always did, and I had just about had enough of him and wrestled him down to the ground. It was then and only then I finally realized that I really didn’t have any reason to be scared. It wasn’t anything my father would tell me about bullies, however, it was my own action that comforted me.

As adults, both young and old, there can be a whole array of things that may truly “scare” us. “How am I ever going to make the mortgage and car payments this month?” “What if the tests my wife has been taking turn out to reveal a cancer?” “Am I still going to have my job after the next round of layoffs at work?” These are all very real things. Things like these are what scare people. And they do not even have to be that serious. I am frightened to stand before a new ecclesia giving an exhortation, as I have a very strong fear of public speaking. And although I am told (which I believe) not to worry because God is with me I still worry!!! I do not want to say the wrong thing or make myself look bad and embarrass myself or even my beloved ecclesia. So then, how can we deal with this crippling emotion that robs many of us at one point or another of comfort and confidence?

Dealing with our fears
Well, first of all, we know that there are two different kinds of worry; the kind of worry about things that happen to us through no apparent action on our part, and the kind of worry about things happening on account of our specific actions. Concerning things happening to us in general, please consider our Lord’s instruction: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?...Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day” (Matt. 6:25, 31 RSV as all quotes).

We are plainly told by Jesus Christ that if we limit our concerns to the day at hand, that should be more than enough to concern us. For Christ reminds us just how much God loves each of us, and that our primary concern should be to strive for the kingdom of God, and all that we need will be added unto us.

So, what then about the obstacles we need to deal with? Or the things we have to do that are new to us? Or the challenges we have never faced before? What is our light in the hall, warding off the monsters that might get us? Consider the summary of our problem in Ephesians 6:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints... (Eph. 6:10-18).

In verse 18, Paul instructs us to pray as a part of taking on the armor with which we should gird ourselves. However, brethren, not only should we pray, but we should also have unquestioning faith and courage in our hearts. Especially for us, dear brethren, for praying should be just like that light in the hall, comforting us and reassuring us that God is right here with us, through all that we may fear in whatever we do.

We need to remember that with fervent, sincere prayer and strong faith God will answer our prayers and be with us, as he was for Jesus Christ. A firm faith that He is listening and answers our prayers can be the light in the hall that gives us the necessary assurance to overcome our fears.

Josh Lagasse, Meriden, Connecticut
May 1999