No Fear - literally

"No Fear" has been a mantra used on apparel in years past. It has also made its way into the verbiage of everyday life conversations now and again.

But, as men, do we really live our lives without fear? I will be the first to admit that I am guilty of being afraid.

Not "afraid" in the sense that my life is in danger or that I do not feel safe.

"Afraid" in the sense that I am waiting for the next "bad thing" in life to bite me in the butt.

As a solo lawyer, it could be a month of low billable hours or low collection income. Maybe it's a case that took a bad turn despite my best preparation and effort.

Examine yourself, and think about where you stand. It could be a bad health diagnosis. A job loss. An untimely death in your family. A business venture that falls apart. An accident that leaves you badly injured and that will affect your daily life for the rest of your life.

In a recent Cloud Nine Higher article, I wrote about the abundance of life that Jesus Christ wants us to have as men.

The Bible is full of verses about fear. Here are three of my favorites, one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament:

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
- Joshua 1:9

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
- Second Timothy 1:7

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
- First John 4:18

If you've read about the life that Jesus led while he walked this earth, you know that he had plenty of reasons to be afraid from time to time. Sometimes his disciples were not as strong as Jesus was in the face of adversity.

Other heroes of faith whose stories are written in scripture had plenty of reasons to fear, too. I'll tell you more about them in future articles.

Focus on your faith and not on fear. Look to a Higher Power who cares for you.

James A. Rose, Publisher