Advent: December 13 – Overcoming Fear

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
Matthew 8:23–27

Fear robs human beings of their true humanity. But we are not meant to live in fear. We should not be afraid! This is what sets humans apart from the rest of creation: even in moments of hopelessness, uncertainty, and guilt, we have a hope. That hope is found in these words: Thy will be done.

We can call on the name of the One before whom all evil trembles, the One who makes fear itself afraid, who causes anxiety to shake and flee. This is the One who conquered fear, took it captive, and displayed his victory over it. He nailed fear to the cross and rendered it powerless. He is the victory cry of humanity redeemed from the fear of death—Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord.

Jesus alone is the master of fear. Fear knows him as its Lord and submits to him alone. So, when you feel fear, turn to him. Think about him, focus on him, and call on his name. Pray to him and trust that he is with you, helping you. When you do this, fear will lose its hold and fade away. You will find freedom through faith in the strong and living Savior, Jesus Christ (Matt. 8:23–27).

Only when we have felt the terror of the matter, can we recognize the incomparable kindness. God comes into the very midst of evil and death, and judges the evil in us and in the world. And by judging us, God cleanses and sanctifies us, comes to us with grace and love.… God wants to always be with us, wherever we may be—in our sin, suffering, and death. We are no longer alone; God is with us.

“The Coming of Jesus in Our Midst”

^{Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. God Is in the Manger : Reflections on Advent and Christmas. Louisville, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, 2012.}