Article June 3, 1939 Issue

Why Be Afraid?

EDITH BAILEY

An inspiring command which carries with it loving counsel and comfort is found in Joshua: "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." When one gains full confidence in the truth that God is with him, wherever he may be, he cannot then be afraid. For does not the presence of God, omnipotent divine Love, preclude the possibility of any other presence? Only by inducing one to concede reality to the false testimony that man is material, can fear claim presence in our consciousness. God, the all-loving, all-powerful, is everywhere. Complete annihilation of fear must follow unwavering confidence in the presence of God.

Jesus' quieting assurance of the protecting presence of God and His laws brought comfort to the disciples on the storm-tossed waters of the Galilean Sea; it also stilled the tempest and calmed the waves. His awareness of the all-inclusive, eternal presence enabled him to rebuke death at the tomb of Lazarus and to bring forth the manifestation of life. Throughout his entire earthly career, there was evidenced in his every thought and deed the same steadfast acknowledgment of God's presence.

Throughout our Leader's writings is the comforting admonition not to be afraid. Her whole life exemplified obedience to this command. She teaches us that we overcome the errors of material sense, including disease, in the ratio of our freedom from fear.

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