As a child, nightmares blanketed my thoughts as I tried to outrun Bigfoot throughout my neighborhood, escape the Boogie Man who was underneath my bed or reenact a scene from a Creature Double Feature that I had watched earlier in the day. While awake, I became afraid of heights after visiting the Empire State Building and snakes during a few close calls where snakes slithered between my legs while cutting the grass in my backyard. Adolescence brought with it a fear of rejection, especially by girls that added to my already fragile psyche. Never did I once challenge fear; instead I ran away like a little girl, awestruck by this mystery.
Catholic hymns like Be Not Afraid conveyed a little hope to my soul, exposing this unnatural emotion. In addition, hearing priests read from Proverbs and Psalms from the Bible produced a sense of peace to ease any remaining anxieties of fear. Yet, in high school I wasn’t mature enough to ask intelligent theological questions. On the other hand, the busyness of college prevented me from contemplating the unsolved mystery of fear. The timing was not right for me to tackle this subject, put on hold for another time down the road toward Elm Street.
Like a scene from Back to the Future, God revealed the answer I was searching for as I opened up Proverbs 1. According to Solomon, unlocking wisdom in life starts with a reverent fear of God. The spirit of fear on earth uses apprehension, panic and trepidation to form a constant state of worry. Biblical fear is the key for attaining the cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, justice and fortitude, Proverbs 1:1-7. These qualities are available to anyone according to C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity. However, this is only half the mystery.
The missing link and final piece of the puzzle is found in 1 John 4:18. According to John, the disciple whom Jesus loved as a son, proclaims “perfect love drives out fear.” The only obstacle to obtaining perfect love is sin. C.S. Lewis states in his chapter entitled Theological Virtues, access is limited to just Christians. This love comes from the power of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 2 Peter 1:3-4. Therefore, if anyone seeks charity, hope and faith, you must come to Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5. The apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4-7 gives a glimpse of what one can expect when the Holy Spirit helps you conquer the mystery of fear. “Be Not Afraid!”
by Jay Mankus
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