There’s been a lot to consider in previous articles, so I wanted to summarize it here, so you can monitor your progress, and make sure you’ve covered all the bases.
Use this list as a checklist, and when you’ve completed them all, you’ll have cast fear out and replaced it with the love of God.
| Forgiveness | Forgive God | |
| Forgive yourself | ||
| Forgive others | ||
| Ask God for His forgiveness | ||
| Patience | Remember there is a season for everything | |
| Remind yourself that you have the right to fail | ||
| Give it time | ||
| Prayer | Reading prayers morning and night | |
| Saying your Obligatory Prayer | ||
| Using the Prayer for Protection | ||
| Using specific prayers to overcome fear | ||
| Read the Writings | Reading the Writings morning and night | |
| Deepen your knowledge | ||
| Meditation on the Words of God | ||
| Study a prayer with someone | ||
| Role Models | Baha’u’llah | |
| ‘Abdu’l-Bahá | ||
| Shoghi Effendi | ||
| Central Figures | ||
| Bahiyyih Khanum | ||
| Martyrs | ||
| Dawnbreakers | ||
| Continental Board of Counsellors | ||
| Auxiliary Board Members | ||
| Sin | Understand lower and higher nature | |
| Understand the Nature of Sin | ||
| Teaching and Service | Action | |
| Distraction | ||
| Teaching | ||
| Service | ||
| Core Activities | ||
| Tests and Difficulties | Understand the role and purpose of tests and difficulties | |
| Thoughts | Knowledge of Self | |
| Fear doesn’t solve anything | ||
| Habits of Thought | ||
| Stop Believing Lies | ||
| Turn your back on fear | ||
| Change Thoughts | ||
| Stop Feeding the Fear | ||
| Forget about Them | ||
| Understand strong emotions | ||
| Understand you’re not alone | ||
| Use Affirmations | ||
| Make a choice and decide to stop | ||
| Understand Death | ||
| Turn to God | Choose the Right Source | |
| Turn to God | ||
| Trust God | ||
| Take your problems to God | ||
| See the end in the beginning | ||
| Recognize Bounties | ||
| Receive God’s Love | ||
| Recognize God’s Forgiveness | ||
| Recognize God’s Protection | ||
| Cling to the Cord | ||
| Virtues | Consultation | |
| Courage | ||
| Detachment | ||
| Faith | ||
| Gratitude | ||
| Happiness and Joy | ||
| Love | ||
| Mindfulness | ||
| Peacefulness | ||
| Radiance | ||
| Trust |
Now that you’ve checked off all the things on this list, hang up a mental “no room at the inn” sign inside your heart, so that fear and anxiety won’t be able to express itself in you again.
Conclusion
You can defeat Fear. Fear is not greater than God! Fear is not greater than the Word of God! Fear is not greater than you!
You’ll want to share these teachings with everyone you meet, but we need to exercise wisdom. It’s unlikely they’ll want to hear so all we can do is pray for them.
Not everything that a man knoweth can be disclosed, nor can everything that he can disclose be regarded as timely, nor can every timely utterance be considered as suited to the capacity of those who hear it.’ Such is the consummate wisdom to be observed in thy pursuits. Be not oblivious thereof, if thou wishest to be a man of action under all conditions. First diagnose the disease and identify the malady, then prescribe the remedy, for such is the perfect method of the skilful physician. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 268)
Walking out of fear into faith doesn’t mean that it won’t visit you again. When you’re standing in faith and fear is reaching all around you, that isn’t fear-faith, that’s a good thing, because it means you’re facing your enemy. It’s a good place to be. You’re in temptation. Some people delude themselves into thinking that if they are finished with fear they never have to face it down again. It’s just another lie from our lower nature. We don’t want to go there.
Ponder then in thine heart: Matters being such as thou dost witness, and as We also witness, where canst thou flee, and with whom shalt thou take refuge? Unto whom wilt thou turn thy gaze? In what land shalt thou dwell and upon what seat shalt thou abide? In what path shalt thou tread and at what hour wilt thou find repose? What shall become of thee in the end? Where shalt thou secure the cord of thy faith and fasten the tie of thine obedience? By Him Who revealeth Himself in His oneness and Whose own Self beareth witness to His unity! Should there be ignited in thy heart the burning brand of the love of God, thou wouldst seek neither rest nor composure, neither laughter nor repose, but wouldst hasten to scale the highest summits in the realms of divine nearness, sanctity, and beauty. Thou wouldst lament as a soul bereaved and weep as a heart filled with longing. Nor wouldst thou repair to thy home and abode unless God would lay bare before thee His Cause. (Baha’u’llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 13-14)
Once we’ve mastered these ways to eliminate fear, it’s important to teach them to our children from their earliest childhood, so they will know how to eliminate them faster than we were able to:
In the treasuries of the knowledge of God there lieth concealed a knowledge which, when applied, will largely, though not wholly, eliminate fear. This knowledge, however, should be taught from childhood, as it will greatly aid in its elimination…. Whatever decreaseth fear increaseth courage. (Bahá’u’lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 32)
For More in this Series:
What Makes us Susceptible to Fear?
Understanding the Link Between Fear and Sin
Overcoming Fear – Introduction
Overcoming Fear By Turning to God
Overcoming Fear By Reading the Writings
Overcoming Fear By Focusing on the Virtues
Overcoming Fear through Courage
Overcoming Fear through Teaching and Service
Overcoming Fear By Changing your Thoughts
Overcoming Fear through Forgiveness
Overcoming Fear through Using Role Models
Overcoming Fear through Tests and Difficulties
What Can Others Do, To Help Those Who Are Afraid?
How has this helped you take charge of your fear and anxiety. Can you think of others to add? Post your comments here: