Why Do We Fear?
A GREAT THREAT TO OUR HEALTH
MENALLY, PHYSICALLY, & SPRIRITUALLY~
WE CAN OVERCOME FEAR WITH OUR FAITH IN GOD
+ Fr. Nicholas V. Gamvas
As Orthodox Christians we don't need to fear because we know that God promises that those of us who die in the
body will still live forever. But are there other fears we face? Is it okay to have fears? What does God say to us
about overcoming fear. In researching about fear, I learned that we all are born with two basic fears; the fear of
falling and the fear of noise. It doesn't take long for us to develop more fears. The London Journal of Psychology,
(Vol. II, pp 33-34), Spring 2008, lists as many as 7,000 documented fears.
I think that a proper understanding of our relationship with Christ can help us because Jesus came to deliver us
from our fears. The Holy Bible speaks of two kinds of fear. First there is the fear that is commanded. This is the
fear of God, a fear that involves respect, honor, reverence and a sense of awe. We read of this type of fear in the
book of Acts. “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strength-
ened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.” (Acts 9:31) This kind
of fear leads to the church, and to individual believers, becoming alive and active as they carry out their mission
from God, a mission to lead a life of holiness.
The second fear found in the Holy Bible is the fear that is forbidden. This kind of fear is born of alarm, fright,
terror, anxiety, distrust and dread. In Psalm 91 we read: “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His
wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of nights,
nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at
midday.” (Psalm 91:4-5)
We are commanded to not fear these things. This fear comes to us because of lack of trust in God and in His
purpose and plan for our lives. The Holy Bible also tells us that, if God is for us, who can stand against us?
(Romans 8:31) Or one of my favorite passages on this subject "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those
who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after
the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:4-5)
We fear the unknown. How many people sit by wishing and hoping for change but don't want to be part of change
because they are afraid of the unknown. It is the dreamers who make their dreams real that cause the world to
move forward. And many times there are many people with the same dream so that hopefully if one dreamer
won't carry it forward another will. What if Thomas Edison decided that it was impossible to generate light through
electricity? We lay off our experienced older workers to hire young people fresh from college with new ideas who
work for less money. Workers in all areas worry that the older they get the closer they get to being seen as a
hindrance to progress. Yet it wasn't always this way: Daniel Webster wrote his dictionary at age 70. At 93,
George Bernard Shaw wrote the play: Farfetched Fables. At 88, Michelangelo did architectural plans for the church.
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
Finally we need to pray. Prayer reminds us that God is big and we are small. Prayer reminds us that God does
care and He can do all things. I really love St. Paul's closing words in his letter to the Ephesians.
“[And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and
always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given
me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray
that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.]” (Ephesians 6:18-20 )
There is one thing in life that feeds our fears more than anything else. That one thing is worry. We are commanded
to "not worry." Just think about the things we worry about. Are any of these worries of immediate importance in
our day to day living? Can we change anything about the things that cause us to worry? Jesus said, "Who of you
by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the
rest?" (Luke 12: 22-34) Let His words carry us through life, a life where worry and fear will have less of an effect
on us with each passing day. Amen.
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Koinonia May & June 2014