Article July 18, 1953 Issue

FEAR NOT!

[Original article in German]

KÄTHE SCHNEIDER

In the Bible we meet again and again these comforting words: "Fear not." It must have been Christ Jesus' awareness of the fear and unrest of the human heart and of its longing for rest and peace that caused him to say (John 14:27): "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you .... Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." In this connection he also urged his hearers to believe in him, as they believed in God. When rightly understood and applied, this injunction leads us out of all fear and unrest and helps us find this peace.

Probably each one of us has had occasion in his own experience to struggle against a sense of fear. Let us ask ourselves, "What is the wrong thought at the basis of fear?" Is it not belief in a power opposed to God, which might endanger health or life, ruin one's livelihood, or cause harm in some way? One who is fearful is unconsciously admitting that God may at some time be unable to help him, and also that God, the omnipotent, may in some instances be helpless and powerless; and this is of course impossible. Fear is, on the one hand, lack of spiritual understanding and of trust in God; and on the other hand it is an admission that something exists besides God. However, Jesus' forceful command to believe in him bids us acknowledge only God and the Christ, only good and the manifestation of good.

If we find ourselves in a distressing situation and the sense of fear tries to take possession of us, the words from verse 10 of the forty-first chapter of Isaiah will help us: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." How comforting and quieting are these particular words; "I am with thee." They assure us that we never face a difficult situation helpless and defenseless, or alone, but that God is always beside us and with us, even at the moment of apparent distress and danger; so we have always by our side the most faithful and able helper. And this acknowledgment of God's omnipresence and omnipotence, of His ever-available help and constant protection, which He gives us in every hour and in every situation however difficult, frees us form all fear.

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