We’re talking about fear this month and for survivors this is a very important topic. What happened to us as children planted a deep fear that can affect everything we do for the rest of our lives. And yet the Bible tells us not to fear, repeatedly; so I believe this means that fear is something that we can learn to control, with the help of God.

I think the first step is to realize that fear is something we all face. Just because you feel fear doesn’t mean that you are a bad person, a weak person, or a failure. It means that you’re human and that you need the help which only God can give.

The second step is to start praying for more love. That may seem strange, but the opposite of fear is not faith; the opposite of fear is love. The Bible tells us that when we are filled with love it pushes out the fear, just like when you fill a glass with water it pushes out the air. Our fears are entirely understandable in view of our past trauma, so we can’t ignore them. But let’s acknowledge them and pray to be filled with an awareness of God’s love for us.

Eventually that will lead to your response of greater love for God. This will not be instantaneous but you will find that the fear will be diminished, your love will be stronger, and you can walk more in faith.