Article May 23, 2005 Issue

FACING DOWN FEAR THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD

By Dee Lewis

WHEN DEALING WITH SUDDEN SEVERE PHYSICAL TROUBLE, FEAR CAN BE overwhelming. Yet we can be assured that God's great love for us—a love that never includes fear—is a present help in our need.

I hadn't been well, but late one afternoon I decided I needed to do a little laundry despite how I was feeling. Afterward, as I was washing my hands, I glanced in the mirror above the sink.

What I saw in that mirror was terribly frightening. My face was completely distorted. And without even thinking about it, I immediately pushed back from the sink with both hands. I didn't want to take in that awful picture. I knew that image in the mirror was not "the image of God"—was not what God knew about me. As I pushed back, I said right out loud, "I am not afraid." Even though I did feel very afraid, I wanted to honor how much God loved me—and how that divine Love includes no fear. But what was even more frightening at that moment was that my words came out in a slur, completely unrecognizable. But still I knew my premise was right—to refuse the fear.

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