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Dark Companion




I recently heard someone trying to motivate and encourage others by discounting fear. He said things like “fear isn’t real,” “fear is a lie” and “fear is nothing.” You may have heard similar descriptions such as “fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real.”

I realize people who talk like this are just trying to help, but we do a disservice to others by pretending fear isn’t real or by suggesting fear shouldn’t be experienced if one is courageous. I’ve addressed this before but wanted to revisit it again. Fear is a very necessary and important emotion. It’s part of what makes us human. If we pretend like fear isn’t there it can destroy us. If we assume only cowards feel fear, we will never be brave.

Overcoming fear is not to be numb to its effects. Rather, it is to not be overcome by it and act appropriately despite what we feel. It is to see fear not as an adversary standing in front of us, blocking our path, but to view fear as a companion that travels beside us. Our companion will sometimes suggest caution and sometimes suggest cowardice, thus we must discern the difference and take appropriate action. We must listen to it, but not be deceived by it. Fear is not an adversary, but it is also not a guide. Just a fickle, often troublesome companion.

We must feel the fear, but act in faith.

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