Fear and Faith

In these times we see and hear and feel, almost from moment to moment, the heartbeat of the world and the impact of its problems, and earnestly we need faith and the solid assurance. “Fear of misfortune,” says an old proverb, “is worse than misfortune itself.”

The fact is that men are always subject to uncertainty. We all have troubles, fears, problems, and we all have to learn to live with them⎯or above them. This has always been so. “He who fears loses strength for the combat of life, for the fight against evil,” said Dr. John A. Widstoe. “Therefore, the power of evil ever seeks to engender fear in human hearts . . . We must seek to dispel fear . . . A timid, fearing people cannot do their work well . . . [We] cannot afford to dissipate our strength in fear . . .”

In some meaningful sentences Robert Frost says: “In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on . . . The important thing to remember is that there is direction and a continuity . . . Despite our fears and worries . . . life continues . . .”

It does continue. And we have to meet it here and now, each day we live⎯and hereafter also. There is no point in quaking with the impact of every hour. We have to have faith, the faith to quiet our hearts in the midst of confusion and uncertainties. We can’t run away from everything; we can’t keep on running from anything⎯for sooner or later we would run out of the strength to run. We have to live life, face it, honor it, enjoy it, adjust to it, in honest endeavor, doing what we can about what we don’t like, and trusting to the future, with courage to be what we ought to be to the best of our ability.

To young men everywhere, to all others also: Have faith against fear, faith in the Father of us all, faith in the future, faith in freedom; faith with courage and conviction, pursuing solid plans and purposes, with an awareness of ultimate and timeless objectives. Despite the squalls and the storms, and even the soul trying tempests, there is an overruling Providence. As we live to deserve His help, He will not forget us or leave us alone.