"Do Not Be Afraid"

In the Catholic Peace Weekly's Preciousness of Faith column, the professor reminds us to turn our eyes to God.

“Do not be afraid,” he remembers how Pope John Paul II often said these words to the students during the columnist's time as an international student, and they brought him great comfort. It was a simple expression, but the Pope, who had lived a life filled with countless hardships and trials, with these words imparted to young people, was a source of great courage.

“Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) These are the words Jesus spoke to his disciples as he walked on the water when the wind blew and the waves tossed their boat. In this way, Jesus approaches us amid crises and trials of our lives, saying, “Do not be afraid.”

What is fear, and where does it come from? The most difficult thing about facing fear is its inherent ambiguity. While fear can sometimes be positive, when excessive, it shrinks our hearts, thoughts, and actions.  Most of what we fear is something that hasn't happened. And even then, we often approach it with preconceived notions rather than as an objective reality.

For example, when we're diagnosed with an illness, we often suffer and fear more from the preconceived notions about it than from the disease itself. If I were diagnosed with cancer, I might perceive it as a death sentence, knowing I likely only have a short time left to live, and even that time would be painful. I'd soon have to leave my beloved family and neighbors, and I'd become sad, depressed, and miserable. This is even though cancer isn't as scary as I thought.

Our lives are filled with worries and concerns, not just illness. No one lives without worries. For us, the Lord's words, "Do not be afraid," can be understood as a call to break free from exaggerated thoughts and emotions about the object of our anxiety. The key is to break the link between the thing we fear and the fear of that thing. The object of our fear is nothing more than a hollow illusion, not reality.

The only way to escape temptation or illusion and return to reality is to turn to God, not to fight it. The more we fight temptation or illusion, the more power we give it. Temptation is not a sin; it is our wills that make it sinful.  

When Jesus was tempted by the devil (cf. Matthew 4:1-11), rather than fighting the devil to the end, he turned his gaze to God and defeated him with the Word of God. "Get behind me, Satan!" (Matthew 4:10). When we rely on the Word of God, the devil's temptations lose their power and disappear.

Therefore, in times of temptation and trial, when we are deeply immersed in fear and worry, let us immediately cease our struggles and turn to God. Let us turn not only our eyes but also our bodies and hearts to Him. He is our Father.  He cares for and protects His children, and will do so to the end. 

With God, there is no trial we cannot endure. He always provides a way for us to survive even in trials. He has already provided solutions to our worries, and He has placed angels along our paths. All we need to do is trust in the Lord and walk the path He has laid out.

When our hearts are weary and distressed, let us listen to the Lord's voice: "Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid." When we entrust our hearts to the Lord, the fears in our hearts will vanish.