By Arch. Bartholomew, Abbot of Esphigmenou Monastery
Do not be afraid of the dark, there is light.
Do not be afraid of the cold, there is warmth.
Do not be afraid of despair, there is hope.
Do not be afraid of sorrow, there is joy.
Do not be afraid of unrest, there is peace.
Do not be afraid of error, there is repentance.
Do not be afraid of the devil, there is Christ.
Fear takes over your soul and inactivates you. You do not resist, you do not think positively. You feel powerless to react. You hide, you feel guilty.
These are some of the side effects of fear.
If you do not resist, fear is not fought. If you do not have positive thoughts, you will drown in denial and darkness. You will live in constant terror.
Do fear and despair become the Christian when he has Christ as his model and guide?
Christ is the Light, the Joy, the Peace, the Hope. Christ is the certainty of our salvation.
When you have Christ in your life, you have everything. So what to fear when you lack nothing?
Christ is love. So fight fear with love because love “puts fear out.”