Fear

Someone once told me they thought I was fearless. That’s always stuck with me—probably because I’ve never seen myself that way. What they really meant was that I wasn’t afraid of getting hurt.

Fear can paralyze even the bravest of souls.

This past summer, I was helping at a camp. One day, a few of the kids started shaving each other’s heads for fun. A senior took it too far and shaved something inappropriate into a freshman’s hair. This freshman really looked up to the older guy, so he was hurt and embarrassed. I found him sitting on his bed, frozen. Even when a few of us came to get him, it took almost an hour before he moved. He wanted to get up, but he couldn’t. When I asked why, he didn’t have an answer—he just knew he couldn’t. He was afraid of what people might say or think. Fear had almost physically paralyzed him.

I’ve felt that kind of fear before. Years ago, I avoided confession even though I knew I needed it. I was afraid of what the priest might think or say. I’ve been too afraid to ask out someone I liked because I feared rejection. And for years I’ve thought, prayed, and talked about the priesthood—but I could never fully enter the discernment process because I was afraid.

A friend once told me, “Fear is just false evidence appearing real.” That’s true for so many fears that keep us from acting. Looking back, some of my fears were ridiculous. There’s nothing to fear in going to confession. If that girl had said no, life would have gone on. If I’d stayed afraid of applying to seminary, I never would have gotten accepted.

Robert H. Schuller said, “If you listen to your fears, you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been.” That resonates with me. Fear has kept me from trying things I might have loved—and I’ll never know what could have been.

Jesus put it this way: “Fear is useless; what is needed is trust” (Luke 8:50). Fear is a tool the devil uses to keep us from living fully in Christ. It’s like sin—it enslaves us. Sin and fear both mean knowing what you want but feeling unable to act.

In John 8, Jesus said:

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin… So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.”

If we fully trust Jesus, what is there to be afraid of? When we bring our sins to Him, He forgives us, sets us free, and gives us the courage to step forward.

So stop letting fear keep you from trying new things or meeting new people. Don’t let sin or fear run your life. Some fear is healthy—like fear of snakes, because, well, snakes can kill you and then you’re dead. But most fears aren’t protecting you—they’re just keeping you from becoming the person God created you to be.

Fear might be real, but so is the freedom that comes from trusting Christ. Choose the freedom.

Just my Thoughts

Go With God

Duncan