Article June 10, 1996 Issue

Violence and fear were familiar companions to many people living in Biblical times, just as they often are today. And just as the truths of the Scriptures were strong supports to believers then, they can teach us how to face the challenges of our own time and place with courage. As you'll see from the articles "in focus," adopting a spiritual approach to life opens our eyes to God's power and sets us free from fear's influence.

Scared?

Sue Rohde

"Scared out of my wits." That was a phrase used when I was a child. The school bully loved to intimidate the others on the playground. Yet I distinctly remember the point when I decided to see him as God sees him and to love him in spite of his mean ways. Toward the end of that school year, he had changed. I realized then that my simple prayers, using love instead of fear, had not only brought about a change in my own thought about this boy, but had probably helped him to be kinder toward his classmates.

Some years later I really looked at the concept of being scared "out of one's wits" and realized that accepting such a possibility is a threat to our well-being because it suggests that we can be cut off from God, divine Mind. If a person or situation strikes such terror into your heart that you feel you can't think clearly, you can always take a stand against this suggestion.

The first thing to do is to turn directly to God and affirm His presence and power. Acknowledging that God, not ourselves, is the one in control calms thought so that we can respond to the situation in a constructive, healing way. Does God recognize evil in a creation that He made all good? Then neither should we give any power to evil by feeling alarmed by its appearance.

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