Do not be afraid!
“Do not be afraid!" These words appear over 360 times in the Scriptures. From the first lines of the Old Testament, God stubbornly repeats to man: "Do not be afraid!"
Uncontrol anxiety paralyzes. It has a destructive effect on the entire body. I know what I am talking about. I went through periods of darkness when fear was my constant companion. Such fear that destroys health, strength, relationships with God and people. The one which consumes the heart, takes the joy of life and destroys trust in the Father. It is an extremely dangerous virus, more dangerous than corona-virus. The escalation of violence in the world shows how much this world is frightened, enslaved by fear.
The modern world is keenly interested in keeping us in this state. We are bombarded with the promotion of fear. Why? Because permanent fear also drives the industry boom. In a word, someone makes a lot of money on this. Our fear supports the interests of big corporations and the media. That is why we are constantly told that the world is evil and cruel. That dangers, diseases, old age and death await us everywhere. That even old people and small children can be in danger - because they are inconvenient.
So, you have to protect yourself in every possible way, hide under a thick layer of makeup, anti-wrinkle cream. "Possession" is also supposed to give us this sense of security, of strengthening our position in this world. That is why we are so attached to our property. Material security is to give us the impression that we control something, that we have control over our life. We look for a similar calming down of our fears in the area of relationships with people. We become addicted to affirmation, success, being in the first place all the time. This is because of our fear of being alone; fear that we will lose something, we will fall out of circle, we will become useless.
Fear came to earth after the fall of man. After his departure from God's love. It was Satan who sowed uncertainty in the heart of man: whether God wanted only his good or not hiding anything from you? The demon feeds on our fear. Himself is completely scared. And with this fear he wants to infect us. God does not want us to be like this. He wants us to trust Him. "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to protect you," says God in the Book of Jeremiah. " It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you," he promises in the Book of Deuteronomy (cf. 31:8). " Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand (Is 41:10). Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. (cf. Is 43:1) - he exclaims through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah.
Repeating these words heals. I know. This is not a mantra, reality conjuring. The Word of God alone has the power to heal not only our hearts, but also our psyche and body. Although sometimes you have to ask for help from another person, a specialist, spiritual director, therapist. It is not a contradiction. Everything is immersed in God. He has the power to work in everything.
Permanent fear is a denial of the perfect happiness that is in God, as we read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. And God invites man to such happiness. There is no fear in him. The more we cling to Him, the more we will be immersed in space without fear. We are heirs of His Kingdom, and everything that belongs to the Father belongs to us. We do not have to be afraid that we will miss something, that we will be excluded, that we will be left behind in the world.
In the kingdom of this world there is fear, failure. God's Kingdom is an abundance and a blessing.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george