Henriet's Blog

Halloween: Fear for Fun? Fear Not

Second in the series on Fear Not in an age of fear and anxiety.

 

You drew near on the day I called on You, And said, “Do not fear!"

Lamentations 3:57, New King James Version

Fear for fun?

 

Fear and Halloween seem to go together. For many it's the opportunity to watch horror movies, decorate with ghoulish flair, don a costume, or prowl nervously through a haunted house. Seeking fear for the enjoyment and scariness of it all. 

 

As someone who struggles with fear, I strive to avoid opportunities to feel more fear. I'm not a fan of Halloween other than the cute kids' costumes and excited faces of those proffering a plastic pumpkin while exclaiming, "Trick-or-Treat." Handing out treats is fun! Fear is not…at least not for me.

Fear Not.

God tells us, "Fear Not" a lot! It's a frequent refrain in the verses of the Bible. When God or angels he sends to talk to people proclaim, "Fear not," it often carries the sense of "stop being afraid." (Good because if you're already afraid saying, "Don't be afraid" is of little help.) Stop being afraid sounds great to me! "Yes Lord, take away this fear." 

 

In Lamentations, the Prophet Jeremiah, talks about suffering, hardships and fear. When we catch up with him in Chapter 3, he has been recounting the struggles of his country, his people as well as his own. In Lamentations 3:53, jailed and in despair he cries out, "They silenced my life in the pit and threw stones at me." In His anguish he cries out to the LORD who answers him. Often in our deepest fear, there is no-one to reach out to except Jesus!

 

They silenced my life in the pit

And threw stones at me. The waters flowed over my head;

I said, “I am cut off!” I called on Your name, O LORD
From the lowest pit. You have heard my voice: 

"Do not hide Your ear from my sighing, from my cry for help.”

You drew near on the day I called on You,

And said, “Do not fear!”

O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul;

You have redeemed my life. 

Lamentations 3: 53 - 58, NKJV

Are you afraid? Dealing with fear? God has an answer, "Stop being afraid (Fear not)." How can we stop being afraid? It takes calling out to Him and realizing He is with you! Right there. With you! Nothing is bigger than God. He can handle your fear and everything that causes it. You might still feel afraid but you don't have to BE afraid.

 

#FearNot

Age of Anxiety: Are We Doomed to Fear?

The first of a series dealing with fear. My goal is to write devotional posts to combat fear and choose "Fear Not" instead.

Why is Anxiety so Prevalent in 2017?

Fear and anxiety are common conditions. Over 18% of the US population age 18 and older are affected by anxiety disorders.* That's almost 1 in 5 adults. My son is one of those who struggles with an anxiety disorder. Anxiety makes life tough or at least a lot tougher.

These statistics (and those below) tell only part of the picture. In addition to those with disorders, many more people struggle with occasional anxiety and "regular" fear. I have that occasional anxiety and find myself being afraid of various things. Often randomly. This became worse during the 10 years of being the family member of a drug addict—that was a very anxious decade!

According to the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)*:

• Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.
• Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.
• Anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.

Facts on Anxiety**

• General Anxiety Disorder or GAD affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, yet only 43.2% are receiving treatment. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men.
• Panic Disorder or PD affects 6 million adults, or 2.7% of the U.S. population. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men.
• Social Anxiety Disorder or SAD affects 15 million adults, or 6.8% of the U.S. population. SAD is equally common among men and women and typically begins around age 13. According to a 2007 ADAA survey, 36% of people with social anxiety disorder report experiencing symptoms for 10 or more years before seeking help.
• Specific phobias affect 19 million adults, or 8.7% of the U.S. population. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men. Symptoms typically begin in childhood; the average age-of-onset is 7 years old.
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD affects 2.2 million adults, or 1.0% of the U.S. population. OCD is equally common among men and women. The average age of onset is 19, with 25 percent of cases occurring by age 14. One-third of affected adults first experienced symptoms in childhood.
• Post Traumatic Stress or PTSD affects 7.7 million adults, or 3.5% of the U.S. population. Women are more likely to be affected than men. Rape is the most likely trigger of PTSD: 65% of men and 45.9% of women who are raped will develop the disorder. Childhood sexual abuse is a strong predictor of lifetime likelihood for developing PTSD.

Is there hope or are we doomed to fear?

"Without Jesus, I would not be standing," continues to be my standard answer when people ask me how I made it through the tough times. During the worst of it, I would find myself sobbing, face down on my hardwood floor, uttering out loud, "Jesus, please help me." Over and over. Sometimes for more than an hour. And He always did; He always helped. He would calm me when I was terrified about the situation. He would flood me with peace when my fears made me freak out. He would strengthen me so I could make it one more day. 

There is hope! His name is Jesus. In my journey, I've found there is no fear bigger than Jesus' love. I would cling to Bible verses to help me through. God's promises served as anchors in the raging storm with gale force winds. One of my favorite verses is from Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV):

Make it your verse in your storm. Jesus will help you when you trust in Him.

Please leave a question or comment. Tell me what you'd like to see discussed in this series on "Fear Not." And, stay tuned for the next blog on "Fear Not."

#FearNot 

Sources:
*https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
**National Institute of Mental Health