For survivors, fear 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 God’s people not to fear, repeatedly; so fear is something that we can learn to control, with the Divine help.

Ask the good Lord to show you how to help survivors understand, without making them feel guilty or inadequate, that fear does not have to control them. Pray to learn the best way to help people see how the power of the Holy Spirit can help us, all the time and anywhere. Even though fear is something we all face, we all also have access to God’s help and we do not have to be controlled by anything.

Perhaps the best way to start that is with your prayers, public and private. Pray that your people (and you, too) will be filled with an awareness of God’s love, because love is the opposite of fear. Not faith, not courage, but 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. As we are increasingly aware of God’s love for us, we respond with greater love for God, and there’s eventually no room for fear.

Please be patient, because this is a gradual process! Fear is real, and powerful. We have to acknowledge it and be aware of its impact. But let’s focus on love instead of on fear, and  we will find that the fear will be diminished, our love will be stronger, and we can walk more in faith.