Coping with Fear

Cast all your cares upon him

for he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

          Fear is rampant in our world today. Fear of war, fear of contagion, fear of economic disasters…. The media feeds into our fear, urging us to check the statistics for our little area of the world, to self-isolate, to follow the rules for social distancing and proper hand sanitization.

          Fear can paralyze us. We feel embarrassed and ashamed for having those feelings. But God does not look upon our hearts and judge us because we are anxious or fearful. He is a caring Father who loves us.

          1 Peter 5:7 urges us to cast all our anxiety, all our fears, all our cares, upon Him – our Abba – because He cares for us. Instead of frowning on us when we experience negative emotions, He reaches out in love and compassion and whispers, “hand me that fear and let me give you my peace instead.”