St. John describes
this spiritual danger in these words: "Fear is danger tasted in advance, a
quiver as the heart takes fright before unnamed calamity. Fear is a loss of assurance . . . it is
a lapse from faith that comes from anticipating the unexpected."
This
spiritual phenomenon takes place in our lives more than we realize. For each person the fear is slightly
different. Sometimes we fail to
follow Christ because we are afraid of what it will cost us. There is a cost associated with each
step of the spiritual journey; a further detachment from the things of this
world, a new step of faith and trust, a great reliance upon Christ. When we face those moments of truth
when the cost is made abundantly clear, we can feel very threatened and
vulnerable. For so long we have
lived in a certain way, for so long our security has been wrapped up in the
things and ways that we are now being asked to put aside. The fears can grow very large. Other times we falter in our journey
towards God because we are afraid of the reactions of others. As we grow towards God, we change. Very often these changes are not
immediately accepted by those who have known us. When we move towards God in positive and challenging ways,
we run the risk of misunderstanding, abuse and rejection. Once again, the fears loom large. Other times we are afraid of our own
inability to do that which God has asked us to do. Perhaps we have failed so many times in the past that we are
afraid of falling again. It seems
easier to do nothing than to step out in obedience to the call of God.
These
and many others represent the nature of our fears. But St. John pushes us to see the "why" behind the
"what." He isolates two
factors. First we are overwhelmed
with fear because of our pride.
"A proud soul is the slave of cowardice. Trusting only itself, it is frightened by a sound or
shadow." Secondly, we often
are overwhelmed by fear through demonic oppression. St. John describes it this way: "It is barrenness of
soul, not the darkness or emptiness of places, which gives the demons power
against us. And the providence of
God sometimes allows this to happen so that we may learn from it."
How
do we overcome such fears? The
answer is clear: through sincere humility and heartfelt trust in God and
through the rejection of all Satanic fantasies. We must not allow fear to keep us from pursuing God. We must look neither to the right nor
to the left, but walk faithfully on that path which God has laid before us,
looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.
1-6 St.
John begins by defining cowardice and describes how it has its roots in a lack
of faith and vainglory.
Cowardice
is childish behavior within a soul advanced in years and vainglory. It is a lapse from faith that comes
from anticipating the unexpected.
Fear
is danger tasted in advance, a quiver as the heart takes fright before unnamed
calamity. Fear is a loss of
assurance.
A
proud soul is the slave of cowardice.
Trusting only itself, it is frightened by a sound or a shadow.
Those
who mourn and those who are insensitive suffer no cowardice, but the fearful
and the frightened often collapse and their minds are unhinged.
7 St.
John then tells us why it is important to overcome this vice and what means are
available to us.
The
slightest concession to this weakness means that this childish and absurd
malady will grow old with you. So
as you go where fright will lay hold of you, put on the armor of prayer, and
when you reach the spot, stretch out your hands and flog your enemies with the
name of Jesus, since there is no stronger weapon in heaven or earth. And when you drive the fear away, give
praise to the God Who has delivered you, and He will protect you for all
eternity, provided you remain grateful.
Just as one morsel will not fill your stomach, so you will not defeat
fear in one move. It will fade in
proportion to your mourning and the less we mourn the greater will be our
cowardice.
8-9 Interestingly,
St. John says that as we grow in the spiritual life, we will begin to detect
the presence of spiritual beings through the presence and absence of fear. John then concludes by telling us
that the greater our fear of God and His judgment, the less we will fear the
things of this world.
"My
hair and my flesh shuddered" (Job 4:15). These were the words of Eliphaz when he was talking about
the cunning of this demon. Fear
starts sometimes in the soul, sometimes in the body, and the one communicates
the weakness to the other. But if
your soul is unafraid even when the body is terrified, you are close to being
healed. However, it is barrenness
of soul, not the darkness or the emptiness of places, which gives the demons
power against us. And the
providence of God sometimes allows this to happen so that we may learn from it.
The
servant of the Lord will be afraid only of his Master, while the man who does
not yet fear Him is often scared by his own shadow. The body is terrified by the presence of an invisible
spirit. Yet when an angel stands
nearby, the soul of the humble is exultant. So if we detect an angel by the effect he is producing, let
us hasten to pray since our heavenly guardian has come to join us.
