Fear and Faith
If we truly have faith in God, why are we still so afraid? Shouldn’t our faith in God “cancel” our fears?
I’ve come to this conclusion: if we have a solid spiritual foundation, there is nothing to be afraid of. And yet I still have fears and I’m guessing most of you have fears, too. This is one area where virtually all religions and spiritual disciplines seem to agree.
The Bible contains numerous passages that speak about fear. The well-known 23rd Psalm includes this language: “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me;…”
In Matthew 6:24-34, Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on.” Jesus then goes on to explain that the birds are not concerned about being fed - God takes care of them. Jesus adds, “And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?”
Vernon Howard, who wrote about spirituality and the Mystic Path, repeatedly stressed that when we awaken to the True Self, there is no need to worry about anything.
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, who lived in India and was one of the most highly regarded teachers of Advaita (non-duality) said that “the moment you know your real being, you are afraid of nothing.”
Our religions and spiritual traditions assure us there is nothing to worry about. Why then do we live in fear so much of the time?
The False Self or Ego is the culprit. There are numerous definitions of ego and we don’t have the time, nor do I have the expertise to discuss all of them. Some of these definitions include: “the self especially as distinct from the world and other selves;” and “an inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others.”
This ego or False Self (as I am referring to it) is constantly thinking and judging - and is concerned with our place in the world and how we stack up in relation to others. The ego stakes out our territory and then tries to “protect” us from losing what we have gained (our possessions, the approval of others, etc.).
The ego convinces us that we need to wear masks, that our authentic self will not be enough to protect us in the world. The ego is always on guard and we feel the stress and the fear.
This False Self is nothing more than a bunch of distorted thoughts, a product of our conditioning; yet it tends to rule our lives. Furthermore, the ego fears annihilation; it never wants its identity to die, either psychologically or physically. Your ego is simply terrified of the thought that “ME” can come to an end.
Most importantly, the ego keeps us out of the present moment, where there is no fear. The ego will punish you with regrets of the past and have you constantly worrying about the future. It never lets you rest in the NOW, where you can find peace. The present moment is your portal to the Divine and the ego distracts you from being in the now.
In the end, the ego is a phantom, a collection of thoughts that we give our energy to. The ego separates us from others and from God.
It’s a spiritual tug-o-war between Fear and Spirit. As you give more attention to the ego, your divine connection is weakened. Fear increases. As you let go of the ego, the divine connection blossoms. Fear decreases.
Thus, if you want to eliminate some of these fears you’re experiencing, I invite you to look at the role the ego or False Self plays in your life. Do not accept my definitions or my analysis. Do your own investigation.
If you earnestly desire to be rid of your fears, or to significantly diminish their hold over you, then you will be attracted to the people and/or resources that will show the way. This could take the form of professional counseling or therapy, a book, spiritual text, seminar, or people who just happen to cross your path.
One word of caution: if you decide to challenge this “entity” called the False Self or Ego, your fears will likely intensify before they subside. The ego will fight you at the outset because its survival is at risk. If you persist, you’ll feel as if you are losing your identity. This can be very scary.
You ARE losing your identity - your false identity. As that false identity fades away, you can recognize your true identity - your eternal Divine Self. Only then will fear begin to yield to faith.
– Jeff Keller
(c)2007