There are many different types of fear, such as fear of poverty, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of illness and fear of danger. All of these can hold us back from our calling. Fear is a negative emotion that can wreak havoc on our lives, preventing us from reaching our full potential. Fear can impact our mental health by making us paranoid and anxious. It can also make us behave inappropriately. The Bible tells us that 'God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind' (2 Timothy 1:7). This makes it clear that we need to overcome any emotions of fear if they arise within us.
In Matthew 10:28, Jesus says the following to His disciples: "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." This is basically saying that we should fear nobody but God. If we live our lives in this way we will feel at peace with ourselves and our surroundings. Of course we need to use wisdom when entering dangerous situations but we shouldn't let fear stop up from doing what we have been called to do.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has killed thousands of people so it's understandable that people will be afraid of catching it. However, the fear mongering and conspiracy theories on social media are causing unnecessary panic. There are a number of things that we can do to avoid infection such as regular hand washing, social distancing and using a hand sanitizer when it's not possible to wash our hands. The NHS website has a full list of preventative measures that people can take.
Psalm 91 is a good Bible verse to read in this uncertain time as it tells us not to be afraid because God will protect us. In addition to praying we should take steps to keep ourselves protected (such as the steps listed on the NHS website).
Stay well x
