In some parts of our lives or another fear is something we have all had to deal with.  It was the Pulitzer Prize winning American author and humorist Dave Barry who wrote, “All of us are born with a set of instinctive fears–of falling, of the dark, of lobsters, of falling on lobsters in the dark, or speaking before a Rotary Club, and of the words, ‘Some Assembly Required.” Sound familiar?  It may not be lobsters, but we can often fill in the blanks on what fears do have a hold on us.

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From the Easter story, it is now the evening of the resurrection day, and we are in our passage of John 20:19.  Here we find the disciples gathered together in a room behind locked doors “for FEAR of the Jews.  Perhaps because they were followers of Jesus they may have thought their lives would be endangered as well. It was then that Jesus appeared among them with these reassuring words, “Peace Be With You”.

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An article from the University of Minnesota mentions that constant fear can have a direct impact on our physical and mental health and well being. The physical response of fear releases toxic chemicals and hormones and activates the “survival brain” even as young as a newborn.

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A well known acronym for FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.  It is a good exercise to look at each fear to determine if it is real or perceived.

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God knows all about our fears and struggles. He created us.  And the amazing thing is that the words “Do Not Fear” or “Fear Not” or “Do Not Be Afraid” appear 365 times in the Bible.  That is one for every day of the year.  🙂

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