YouTube: Confronting Fear
Fear stands out as one of the most damaging emotions we can experience. It has the unique ability to disrupt our peace of mind and undermine our overall well-being. Despite its harmful effects, fear is deeply ingrained in the human experience—so much so that it seems to be as natural and inevitable as the very act of breathing.
One reason fear is so widespread is that we often focus our attention on the external things we fear, rather than examining the nature of fear itself. By concentrating on these fearful objects or situations, we allow fear to persist and take root in our lives, making it a common and recurring presence.
According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus entered Jerusalem during the final week of his life, fully aware of the danger that awaited him. Even as he understood the gravity of his situation, he did not shy away from facing it. Just before his arrest, Jesus prayed for the removal of the circumstance he feared most—the very event that would lead to his death. Despite this, he ultimately surrendered to the path before him, expressing acceptance with the words, “Thy will, not mine, be done.”
This story offers a profound lesson for us. Often, our prayers focus on asking for the removal of what we fear, rather than seeking the strength and understanding to overcome fear itself. If we shift our perspective and examine why we choose this destructive response, our object of fear can provide the opportunity for spiritual growth and enlightenment. The real challenge is to reach a place where, even if what we fear remains, we no longer feel afraid.
By setting aside our fear-based reaction—which seeks conditional freedom from fear—and allowing God’s greater will of freedom and power to prevail, we discover that experiencing the circumstance without fear is truly possible.
We can experience our own triumphal entry by using a fearful moment to confront our fear, to truly examine what it is that is prompting us to choose this negative response. Fear loses its power, not when circumstances change, but when we no longer grant it authority within us. What we once avoided becomes the very doorway through which courage and clarity emerge.
J Douglas Bottorff 