Don’t Be Afraid
Matthew 17:1-9
One of the most frequent refrains in the Gospels are the words, “do not be afraid.” When the angel visited Mary, “do not be afraid.” When the disciples witnessed Jesus walking on water, “do not be afraid.” In the last supper in the Gospel of John, Jesus reminded his disciples to “Let not your hearts be trubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Lots of fearful things were happening during the time of Jesus’ ministry. And I think anyone reading this post in February 2026 would agree that we live in fearful times in the USA as well!
Whether its violence and the freefall into authoritarianism we are witnessing as Americans, or the act of God event of the transfiguration where Jesus shone with a bright light on the mountain top and was joined by giants of the faith—God’s invitation remains the same, “do not be afraid.”
We are encouraged not to be afraid all of the time because fear might be one of the most dangerous things we can allow to control us at any point in time. I love Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” and his litany on fear contained within it:
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Fear keeps us from being close to God. It tempts us to believe in lies that bring us comfort rather than truth that brings us freedom. And it can cause us to miss the miracles God is enacting in our midst, just like it would have kept the disciples from fully witnessing the power of God as it transfigured Jesus on the mountain.
Not all fear is trembling and cowering. Sometimes fear is more subtle and shows up as anxiety that keeps us from meeting that new person or trying that new things. Sometimes fear becomes hidden by anger, and we dont recognize that it is leading us to despise our neighbor rather than seek to understand them. Fear has many guises, and Frank Herbert was right. “Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.” At the end of the day, the fear we allow to control us will only lead us to our destruction.
And it will certainly keep us from reckoning with the presence of God in our midst. So take to heart God’s frequent reminder in scripture: “Don’t be afraid.”
