Fear

One day mom was outside doing yard work, and she went inside to check on my 3 year old sister. When she couldn't find her anywhere in the main rooms, she checked the child's bedroom, and found it locked. She unlocked it and came inside to see her daughter almost wholly submerged under the sheets, face completely drained of color and eyes wide open. Worried, mother asked her what was wrong. She responded in a hushed, trembling voice, "Mommy, I saw a flying creature." As it turns out, there was a little house fly zooming around the house.

All of us have irrational fears. We have them because we lack the perspective required to understand how irrational they are. For example, I was petrified of starting college. I thought I was going to have a hard time studying, that all my professors would hate me, and that I would flunk all my classes. However, after starting school, I realized it wasn't half bad. I actually enjoyed school. I had gained a more informed perspective of the nature of college, and as a result my fears were eradicated.

The scriptures teach that fear is the antithesis of faith (Psalms 27:1). If we have perfect faith, we will not fear anything. God has an omniscient perspective, and perfectly understands what is dangerous and threatening and what is not. Still, God does not fear because He has the power and authority to overcome any hurdles and challenges. With God lifting us up, we have no need to fear.

Think of Peter. He attempted to walk on water, as Jesus had. He was even successful temporarily. But ultimately the miracle met its demise when he feared that he would not be able to do it. As soon as he doubted, he sunk. As crazy as this may sound, fearing that you will sink is an irrational fear. When God has got your back, you should be able to conquer any challenge, especially challenges he has invited you to do. Peter had too narrow of a perspective and thus underestimated the extent of God’s power.

If we wish to overcome fear, we must gain a bigger perspective of our universe. We must come to understand the true nature of God and his interactions with His spirit children. We must more fully comprehend the perfect designs of His plan for each of us. As we study the gospel and experience the blessings of living it, we cultivate our faith. We will eventually realize that the torrents and hailstorms that buffet our lives are in reality mere puffs of air in the eternal scale.