Do Not Be Afraid

(Mt. 14:28; Mk. 6:50; Jn. 6:21)

On several occasions Jesus uttered the above phrase to encourage His disciples. This was also the initial salvo of Pope John Paul II at the beginning of his pontificate. I would say, that phrase is important for each and everyone of us, so long as we face situations with firm trust in God. The sad thing that happens is when people are fearful of facing situations, challenges and problems. The problems then get compounded and reinforced.

There was a famous psychologist around the year 1935, Dr. Alexander Cannon, author of the book “Powers That Be,” who compared our fears as if we were facing fierce animals. I might as well quote his exact phrase, though he included too a quotation from the Bible. “Dream of a great future and that future will come to you! For all things are possible to him that believeth (Mk. 9:23). Fear will vanish when you walk up to it and face it like a man. The lion takes its fierceness from your fear: walk up to him and he will run from you; run away and he will run after you. Banish fear and you will also banish evil. Love one another and hate will be no more. Face a situation fearlessly and there is no situation to be faced.”