Dash of Thought April/May 2025

I believe there is no life without fear. That's human and it may be so. The current world situation, the destruction of the basis of life of people and animals, changes in the church, events in our professional or personal environment - all of these things can and do cause fear, sometimes more, sometimes less. It was no different for Jesus' disciples - I am thinking of the night storms on the lake or the time after Jesus' death on the cross when they even locked themselves in out of fear. Crises - and Jesus' death was a crisis for his followers - trigger uncertainty and fear. Jesus states, not reproachfully, but with pastoral care: "In the world you have distress" (John 16:33). Yes, we are always afraid, even as believers
Without wanting to gloss over the causes: Fear in itself and being afraid are not negative. But dealing with it can lead to problematic consequences. Fear has a negative effect when we - as individuals or as a group - allow it to control us, when we allow it to guide our thoughts, speech, and actions. We "lose our heads", react violently, emotionally uncontrolled, and are no longer able to behave in a considered and differentiated manner. Fear then blocks us, prevents constructive solutions, and causes damage. This is all the worse if we have leadership responsibility and, as leaders, influence others and get them involved.
"But", says Jesus, countering our fear with something. Namely his presence, his compassionate, encouraging, life-strengthening closeness. "Be encouraged! Don't let yourselves be driven crazy! Rely on me!", because "I have overcome the world". Jesus does not say: "I have overcome fear", but "the world". His message is: You are not alone in your fear. I will get through it with you and help you to become calmer and more confident and to deal with it constructively.
We are not helplessly at the mercy of fear. We can make a decision. Do we give space to fear, or do we seek the one who does not leave us alone in our fear, but gives us peace, his peace? Do we allow ourselves to be controlled by fear, or do we rely on the one who has overcome the world, Jesus Christ?
 
Bishop Stefan Zürcher