We often reason that the reason we are afraid is because of the current fearful circumstance, we think if the situation was different we wouldn’t be afraid, if the stakes were not so high, if the chances were not so slim, then we would not fear. We think we are afraid because of the issue on the ground not realizing that the reason for fear is not the fearful thing or circumstance out there, but the fearful heart within.
The spirit of fear trails a person’s life in all possible situations, it follows from birth to death, and like a shadow always around, animating itself in all of life’s affairs.
Let me share the fictional story of Anne Lane to show how fear can be an ever-present companion if we let it:
Anne Lane was just turned 17 when the date of the university entrance examinations was announced, she could not shake the fear and dread of not getting admission, she taught of Funke and many others who would be writing same exams for the 3rd year consecutively, yet somehow she got admission the same year.
Now at the university, the cost of tuition and living was higher than what she or her guardian had bargained. The daily fearful thoughts of how she would get enough money to pay her fees and something left for her upkeep was her blanket through each semester. But somehow the money came, the fees were paid, life continued.
Schoolwork was tough and her department tougher, she dreaded and lived trembling at the thought of failing her exams, especially her final year project, somehow she passed and graduated.
Then came Youth Service, the fear of being posted a million miles from home to some dangerous, dessert in the North became the clouds over her days. The posting came out, she got posted to a comfortable place.
The service year is done and Anne is back home, she looks around at the unemployment statistics and the fear of joblessness has occupied two rooms in the one-room she stays. Her mind is playing the picture of a graduate trekking the streets sweltering under the sun and supplying CV’s in every place that would care to collect. It isn’t long after the fear of joblessness invites its brother, the fear of poverty. The movies of wretchedness and a hand to mouth existence were 4-D clear in her mind and she lost sleep over it all. But somehow she got a job.
Anne Lane is turning 29 next month but she’s not smiling, she’s been sending prayer points up and down, sowing seeds for breakthrough in marriage, the fear of getting old without getting married has gripped her. She’s tortured by thoughts of herself as an older woman living alone, past years of youthful beauty, gradually living the threshold of bearing children, unwanted and undesired by men. But nonetheless, somehow she soon got married.
She’s married now, it’s not even up to a year since the wedding day, but she is scared, afraid, and tortured by the thoughts of being childless. She remembers all the Nollywood movies of how things quickly turn bad for the woman who is infertile. She’s goggling every day looking for how to get pregnant and this now brings out a fear of her husband cheating on her, because she fears he might be tempted with another woman should she be barren, but somehow she becomes pregnant.
She’s in her first quarter of pregnancy but is already scared and worried about losing the baby. Anything unusual looks like a sign of losing the baby, constantly thinking and imagining all the different ways things can go bad, during the pregnancy or in the course of delivery. However, she delivered a beautiful, healthy baby boy.
Junior is growing up very quickly, but she’s scared, terrified really, the news of kidnappers, child molesters, ritualists, self-harm, and more keep her awake at night wondering if her boy would ever survive in this dangerous world. Every time he goes to school, she’s repetitively chanting prayers for him to come back safely. Somehow Junior survives childhood.
She’s had more children and expenses have gone up, she’s scared: worried about how they may all soon not have what to eat, money for rent or new clothes for the kids. What if I or my husband loses our job? What if the rent gets higher? Or junior gets sick? Or the kid’s school asks for money? Somehow through it all, they had enough money for all their needs.
The kids are all grown up and on their own now but this has only created a new fear: what if they marry the wrong person? What if something happens to Junior as he travels up and down for business? What if they forget me in my old age? Somehow none of these things happened.
She’s getting older now and she’s scared, what if I lose my health? What if they stop paying me pension? What if my husband dies? What if something happens to the grandkids? Somehow none of these happened.
She’s on her deathbed now as an old lady but even though she’s heard the pastor say it and even read it in the bible she can’t help fearing, what if I don’t make it to heaven? What if something goes wrong and they misspell my name in the book of life or something? What if, what if?
Her fears continue, even to the grave.
This fictional story about Anne Lane, while a bit on the stretched side, it does show certain things: someone may have told Anne as a young lady that her fear of not getting admission is valid in view of the condition of many Nigerian schools or that her fear of not getting a job after school was understandable due to the high unemployment rate. But in reality, all those things were merely suitable breeding environments for the seed of fear locked deep in her soul, a fear that popped up in all possible situations. So it’s not about a fearful environment, but a fearful soul. One person sits on a flight and gets excited about the thrill of flying, another person sits in the same flight and can only rehearse all the stories of airplane crashes.
What many fail to realize is that while the spirit of fear is gloomy, while it brings torment and opens the door to many bad things it is very often reasonable to the human mind. It usually finds a reason, often a good reason, real or fake that becomes the basis of spreading that fear. Faith is not denying the possibility of all fear says, faith is declaring that the possibility of the Word is a greater possibility and in fact the only possibility for the life of faith.
…because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18
The perpetuity of fear is that it does not stop, it continues in every area of every stage of life. Its torment is felt in every way, blinding its victim from the joy of each season.
From our story, not one of all Anne Lane’s fears materialized, yet she lived a life tortured and tormented by fear, we did not mention how she had health problems because of her high BP and marital problems because of her insecurity and how her kids had to lie to her just to appease her frightful mind. She never smiled when facing challenging situations and what a shame because most of life involves facing challenging situations. Faith does not help us avoid these challenges it is the means by which we face it and overcome it.
From Anne Lane’s experience, you must realize that each time we give room to fear in on situation we make room for fear in other areas. Give the devil no foothold.
Do not see fear as a norm in any area, rage against it in your soul, war against it in your life, with the revelation of God’s Word and the victory that comes from prevailing prayer. I have written on “Handling fears” in an earlier article which you may wish to access, for greater clarity on HOW to deal with fears. Don’t let fear grab an inch of your soul, lest it seizes the miles of your life.
May the Peace of God, which passes all understanding garrison your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.
Winded Ways 