Fear paralyses. It also causes us to scramble for a solution to protect and defend ourselves and our loved ones, no matter how ridiculous our actions seem. The soundness of our decision making deteriorates. We hide, prioritize incorrectly, believe false truths, and treat others as objects without giving them proper dignity. Fear distorts our focus and jerks our eyes off God. When we allow our fear to control us, it destroys us.
Trust no longer seems possible when fear is in charge. As our fear increases, it pushes us to trust in our false gods and cling to the control that we falsely believe that we possess. We grasp at straws and scamper to protect ourselves and those we love from harm. Fear does not seem displaced and appears harmless, possibly even the only choice. However, in allowing our fear to control our decisions, we actually loose power.
When our fear runs rampant, we lose our desire to surrender and trust in our Lord. We take on troublesome situations ourselves, placing the power in our own hands and turn away from giving the power to God.
I know a man who grew up in extreme poverty. He was often without food. His family struggled tremendously, not able to meet his basic needs. Diligent in his studies, he received a scholarship for college. He was determined to never experience that same dire poverty ever again. Always maintaining focus and working to excel, he graduated at the top of his class. Then, he met a girl, fell in love, and quickly became a father. With devotion to his young family and driven by fear of poverty and a need to succeed, he applied to medical school. Accepted, he again diligently worked to excel. With his degree in hand and a specialized field chosen, he thought he was set, except now his marriage was falling apart. He and his bride divorced, leaving hearts broken and his kiddos sad. His dream of monetary success achieved, he would not need to fear poverty, but had he succeeded? This man wondered where he would have ended up had he never been accepted to medical school. Was this the path God had intended he take or did his fear drive him to make decisions that were not prudent?
How often does this occur? Fear fills our bodies, and we lose all sense of reason as we strive to control and overcome. In striving to survive, when fear controls, we become so focused and narrow-minded we often overlook those impacted by our actions. We push forward and despite our best intentions, hurt those we love. In our efforts to control, we become a sort of mad, and do whatever it takes to rise above our situation, despite the obvious consequences or ridiculousness of our behavior. We lose trust and take control, disregarding right reason and God’s might.
“Trust the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5-6.
Call to Act: Where is fear controlling you right now? Where are you trying to take control to ensure an outcome? Is the Lord asking you to surrender and trust Him with an enormously stressful or overwhelming situation? I encourage you to begin with the Litany of Trust. Pray it each morning and night, until it seeps into your being. Trust in the Lord. Give it all to Him. Surrender. Follow St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross’s wisdom, “Learn to live at God’s hands.”.
“The Lord is with me; I am not afraid; what can mortals do against me?” Psalm 118:6
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us that we may surrender to the will of Our Heavenly Father. Beg him to eradicate fear from our hearts and compel us to draw nearer to Him, the one who loves us fully. Pray that the Lord’s peace overwhelms us and allows us to leave behind the fear that threatens to consume us and control us. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.
“I sought the Lord, who answered me, delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:5
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was born as Edith Stein. She was the feisty youngest child of a large Jewish family. She was born in 1891 in Poland and was baptized Catholic in 1922. After a just a few years, she took her religious vows in Germany. As World War II loomed, it became unsafe for her to remain in Germany with the Nazis. She was moved to Holland where she was eventually captured and taken by train to Auschwitz and killed in a gas chamber. Though Teresa Benedicta’s life ended at the young age of 51, she touched many lives with her devotion to nonviolence, the truth, and her trustful surrender of her life to Our Lord. Read more about her here:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/st-anthony-messenger/the-life-and-legacy-of-edith-stein
The Litany of Trust
From the belief that I have to earn Your love… Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that I am unlovable… Deliver me, Jesus.
From the false security that I have what it takes… Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that trusting you will leave me more destitute… Deliver me, Jesus.
From all suspicion of your words and promises… Deliver me, Jesus.
From the rebellion against childlike dependency on You… Deliver me, Jesus.
From refusals and reluctances in accepting Your will… Deliver me, Jesus.
From anxiety about the future… Deliver me, Jesus.
From resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past… Deliver me, Jesus.
From restless self-seeking in the present moment… Deliver me, Jesus.
From disbelief in Your love and presence… Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being asked to give more than I have… Deliver me, Jesus.
From the belief that my life has no meaning or worth… Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of what love demands… Deliver me, Jesus.
From discouragement… Deliver me, Jesus.
That You are continually holding me, sustaining me, loving me… Jesus, I trust in You.
That Your love goes deeper than my sins and failings and transforms me… Jesus, I trust in You.
That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You… Jesus, I trust in You.
That You are with me in my suffering… Jesus, I trust in You.
That my suffering, united to Your own, will bear fruit in this life and the next… Jesus, I trust in You.
That You will not leave me orphan, that You are present in Your Church… Jesus, I trust in You.
That Your plan is better than anything else… Jesus, I trust in You.
That You always hear me and in Your goodness always respond to me… Jesus, I trust in You.
That You give me the grace to accept forgiveness and to forgive others… Jesus, I trust in You.
That You give me all the strength I need for what is asked… Jesus, I trust in You.
That my life is a gift… Jesus, I trust in You.
That You will teach me to trust You… Jesus, I trust in You.
That You are my Lord and my God… Jesus, I trust in You.
That I am Your beloved one… Jesus, I trust in You.
Written by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, Sisters of Life