Fear is such a powerful thing, isn’t it? Of course, there is fear that is reasonable (“healthy” fear, as we like to call it today), but oh how seamlessly it falls into havoc-wreaking unreasonableness!

Unreasonable fear can cause us to do all kinds of irrational and uncharacteristic things – hurtful things – both to ourselves and others. Unreasonable fear can push us into making destructive “deals with the devil” as we desperately attempt to fight it. This kind of fear is a bad motivator.

As Christians, it causes us to take our eyes off the grand mission we have been given: to love God and love our neighbor, including those that seem like our enemies. This kind of fear causes us to lose sight of the Great Commission.

When I am tempted towards irrational fear, I try my best to remember some of the most comforting words of our sovereign and good Lord:

“In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

These words have a sort of tempering effect when it comes to my fears. They enable me to hold onto hope as I seek to be faithful to His calling on my life: to love Him and my neighbor.

Lord have mercy on us in these trying and turbulent times; when the temptation to give in to fear meets us at every turn!