“…These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33)
I think of fear as our daily challenge, as *the* daily challenge, which is to be handed over to God first thing every morning, so we can be at peace, “of good cheer” and free, to approach our daily responsibilities honestly and effectively. Conscious contact with God, through a bit of heartfelt prayer sprinkled throughout our daily schedule, makes us not reckless or delusional, but humbly realistic about the challenges we face from the only-human fears within ourselves.
Our fears can be either damaging or beneficial to our spiritual growth, depending on how we deal with them. We might try to escape them through procrastination, unhealthy eating and/or drinking, binge-watching this or that online, or even over-talking about them with our friends. In the long term, inaction only breeds more fear.
I prefer to look at my fears as a tap on the shoulder, nudging me toward a “return home” into God’s hands. Thank You, Lord, for these daily reminders, also in the form of our fears, that we should and can keep coming back, into Your presence.
