The bible tells us not to be afraid 365 times.
Clearly, God wants us to understand fear from his perspective every single day of the year.
But what is fear exactly? St. Thomas Aquinas defined fear as a response to a future evil that seems irresistible and beyond the person's power. When we feel fear, it is about a perceived future event and appears to be something outside our control.
However, fear is not an enemy. In reality, it is an ally that tends to become overburdened. God gave us fear and all the physiological responses to cope with certain situations. Fear helps us detect a threat and react by avoiding or running away. For instance, if a bear is chasing you, fear can be a very helpful and effective survival mechanism. Fear certainly has its due place.
However, we tend to let fear become anxiety, and we respond by loathing it or relying on it.
For example, going to work can be a fearful thing for many people. Sometimes, we hate the fact that we’re afraid and causes us to live in a cloud of frustration. Other times, we rely on that anxiety to drive us forward… but again, this is not what fear is for.
When we choose fear out of loathing or reliance, it often drives us away from God by questioning Him and putting faith in our own capabilities to overcome our situations.
The solution is to embrace fear like a sidekick in your life. Fear is trying to protect you and while it means well, its help can also be destructive. Let us not avoid fear and add to the vicious cycle, but know what role fear needs to play. Fear is a part of being human and it is meant to protect you, but it must be used properly.
Create a new relationship with fear. Instead of hating fear, embrace fear as an opportunity to grow in virtue and come closer to God. If you feel anxious getting ready in the morning, embrace fear by finding ways to challenge yourself to grow. If you are afraid of social situations, embrace fear and lean on Christ to be present with others in small ways.
You are stronger than you think and can tolerate the chatter your “sidekick” fear brings. In the end, we come to see fear not as the enemy nor the ruler of our lives, but embracing fear as a well-intentioned aid that we listen to with a grain of salt.