7 Pieces of Advice from an ApostleSample

Do Not Give Way to Fear

Whenever we are tempted to give way to fear or timidity, we must remember Paul’s words to Timothy: God has not given us a spirit of fear. That’s not who we are. That’s not the Spirit of Christ Jesus in us. Instead, God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. 

We have power, love, and self-control because of the risen, all-powerful, all-loving, all-disciplined Christ within us. His presence changes everything.

In Seeing with Our Souls, Sister Joan Chittister recounts a story about a man who had this kind of courage. The story, perhaps legendary, comes from the literature of the monastics and tells of a time when a great army invaded a country and left a path of destruction. Their greatest wrath was reserved for the monks:

When the invaders arrived in one of the villages…the leader of the village reported to the commander, “All the monks, hearing of your approach, fled to the mountains.” The commander smiled a broad, cold smile, for he was proud of having a reputation for being a very fearsome person. But then the leader added, “All, that is, but one.” The commander became enraged. He marched to the monastery and kicked in the gate. There in the courtyard stood the one remaining monastic. The commander glowered at the figure. “Do you know who I am?” the commander demanded. “I am he who can run you through with a sword without batting an eyelash.”

And the monastic fixed the commander with a serene and patient look and said, “And do you know who I am? I am one who can let you run me through with a sword without batting an eyelash.”

That’s the fearless spirit of the risen Christ within us.