Fear of God

Fear keeps us away from God. We resist his graces and his invitations to intimacy. We shun establishing a relationship with God and with others. We need to remember that intimacy with God leads to the desire to be of service to others. It gives us courage to confront unjust structures and powers-that-be just as Jesus did.

The seeker: I am scared to go to the missions. There are rumours that the fundamentalists are planning to kill all the missionaries and rape the nuns.

The guide: Fear seems to control your life.

The seeker: I don’t want to be raped and to die...

The guide: Jesus too did‘ not want to die on the cross......

Fear Of the Future

“I am terribly anxious about my next appointment.”

“What frightens you?”

“I don’t know what - but I am still afraid of tomorrow.”

“What frightens you is your imagination - that is not really there.”

“In the past there have been very painful experiences in my life.” 

Fear of Speaking and Reading in Public

John said, “I feel very nervous when I read in the church. Even in the class, I am generally very nervous and cannot read aloud properly. Get mixed up lines and see double. My hands tremble and my knees knock against each other. I need help.”

“You seem to be aware of your body. The next time you go to read, I want you to do two things. First, look at the others around you and indicate to them that you are nervous and shivering. Second, I want you to let your hands tremble more and to your knees knock harder.”...

How to Manage Fear?

Should we necessarily succumb to fear of any and every kind? No. In fact, we never want to. In life we feel the urge to succeed by overcoming fear. We fight against nervousness. After struggling against stage fright, we speak confidently in public.

All seekers have one fear or another. The fear may be rational or irrational, real or imaginary, concerning the past, present or the future. Fear has to be understood for what it is and then to be overcome..............

Fear Is Part of Life

Fear is a gift from God, a messenger of safety so to say. Fear has many useful purposes. It could warn us so as to protect us from harm, prepare us to face difficult situations courageously, insist and enable us to face and accept our limitations and our vulnerability. Before we repress or suppress our fears, we need to listen to the message inherent in them. Fear has force and energy, even grace.....