Everyone has fears. There is no one who can honestly say they aren’t afraid of something. Even Jesus faced fear in the garden – enough that He sweat blood.
Fear can motivate us to fight and flight. It can stop us in our tracks and control our whole life.
In the end, we have a choice to make. We can surrender to fear or surrender the fear.
Our Catholic and Christian faith tells us to surrender all our fears to God. Surrendering our fears to God is the only way that we can begin to find peace and hope.
Of course, this is easier said then done. Many of us live in a debilating state of fear. We are crippled by fears of what we’ve done, of our failures and things in the world. Illness and Covid, loss of our comforts and so much more. We allow fear to steal our peace and joy and ultimately, even our faith.
When fear pervades our life, we cannot even breath in the Holy Spirit. We start to doubt God or even, add God to our fears. We fear His judgment IF He is even there or doubt God is even God. At the point, the enemy has his hands around our neck as he whispers words of fear into our hearts.
Fear is an insidious lie of the devil. I’m not talking about being afraid of the bear looking hungrily at your picnic basket. I’m talking crippling spiritual fear.
How do we overcome fear?
Firstly, renounce the spirit of fear, brothers and sisters! Cast it out of your life! Don’t allow it to have even a foothold. “Easy for you to say, Ed.” Well, yes, it is easy. I say it every day and it’s become easier. “I renounce the spirit of fear and cast it out of my life, binding it in the Precious Blood of Jesus and setting it to the cross of Jesus Christ.”
Then, I say this powerful prayer and blessing to surrender that fear – “Jesus, I trust in You.” And, repeat over and over until the fear leaves. If it is a powerful fear, I hold my crucifix to my chest and repeat, “Jesus I trust in You.”
“Do not fear: I am with you.” Isaiah 41:10
What are YOU afraid of? What are you afraid to let go of? Stop being a slave to fear.
Trusting “God is God” is the ultimate arrow in our quiver. When we trust God, His truth comes forward in our life.
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15-16