Colleen Orchanian

I have heard that the Bible says, Do not be afraid 365 times, one for each day of the year. I'm not sure how accurate that is because you can't believe everything you see on the internet, and I have not actually counted it myself. But the point is that we should not be afraid. God often repeats these words because we often need to hear them.

Fear is a weapon of the devil, but not all fear is a spiritual attack. There is a healthy fear that makes us cautious. When I first began riding a motorcycle, I was terrified, certain I would crash, and that would hurt. A lot. That was a reasonable fear because I didn't know how to ride yet, and motorcycles are dangerous. The fear made me more cautious. I rode slower. I practiced. I took classes. I wore protective gear. I became a defensive driver. I know the risks and take action to protect myself. That's an example of good, healthy fear. Healthy fear leads to actions that reduce the risk of danger. That's good. That comes from God.

What about the other kind of fear? The kind used by Satan as a spiritual attack? These are fears that keep us from doing God's will or disturb our peace. Here are some common fears that may be spiritual attacks:

Fear of death. In World War II, people did horrible things because they did not want to die. They would kill another rather than suffer the same themselves. But Jesus said, Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul (Matthew 10:28). Death is something to fear if we don't know and follow God. If we do know and follow God, we live in hope for eternal life. The great martyrs show us the way. Ignatius of Antioch. Maximilian Kolbe. The Carmelite nuns during the French Revolution. St. Thomas More. All of them faced death with courage and hope.

Fear of suffering or sickness. We take pride in our healthy bodies, and often we joyfully serve those who are sick. But when WE become the one suffering, it's different. We need humility to allow others to take care of us, especially if we have always been the caretaker. And we need fortitude to suffer well. God can use our suffering. Paul wrote in Colossians 1:24, I make up in my flesh for what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for his body, the church. The world tells us suffering is bad, and it is a tragedy; that is true. But it can also be redemptive if we offer it up for the needs of others.

Fear of material loss. We love our stuff and feel the need to protect it. That's not bad, unless we are more attached to our stuff than to the things of God. The rich young man went away sad when Jesus told him to give away all he had to the poor. Jesus knew the man was too attached, and until he followed Jesus, he would never be happy. Sometimes our possessions are barriers to God, and this fear of material loss is a way the devil uses that attachment to disturb our peace and make us doubt God's providence.

Fear of making a mistake; fear of failure. I won't take on a responsibility because I'm not sure I can do it well. I won't write that article because it won't be perfect. I won't teach Sunday School because I don't know enough. These fears about our inadequacy keep us from serving God. God has never called the perfect to work in His vineyard. He called 12 fishermen as Apostles. They made mistakes. He knew they would, and that was okay. Perfectionism is an obstacle to serving God, and the enemy exploits that.

Fear of physical harm/violence. We live in a dangerous world. Bombings, murder in the streets, shootings in churches and schools, and more. We hear it on the news every day. Fear of violence could keep me locked in my house, double or triple locked with a really good alarm system. That's isolation, a weapon of the devil. God wants us in the world, spreading the good news, and living in community with other believers. Is it dangerous? Yes. But, as St. Joan of Arc said, I am not afraid, God is with me.

Fear of ridicule or rejection. This fear keeps us from spreading the Good News. Jesus said, Go into all the world and tell the Good News. He also said, If they didn't like me, they won't like you either. The devil wants us to crave the approval of the world. God wants us to care less about that and be a witness to the world.

Fear of others finding out my secrets. St. Ignatius wrote in Rule 13 that the enemy wants temptations kept secret, knowing he cannot succeed if they are brought to light with the appropriate spiritual person. That doesn't mean we have to go on TV and share true confessions. We want to be wise about who we share information with. But we can't worry about others finding out our mistakes. The Apostle Paul persecuted the Christians. He didn't hide from his past, but used it to show God's great mercy.

Fear of the unknown future. (What if…) This fear is especially effective with those of us who like to control things. When we get a diagnosis that changes our lives, we are likely to be attacked. I can't control the progress of the disease. I want to know when each new symptom will hit and how bad it will be. How long do I have? Overcoming this fear requires surrender to God's perfect will. Jesus said, You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it (Matthew 6:27). In fact, the opposite happens. Worry and stress create physical problems that shorten our lives.

That's not an exhaustive list of fears, but it covers the big ones. So what do we do? How can we fight this spiritual attack? Here are five steps:

1. Name the fear. Am I afraid to die? Is it the process of dying or death itself? When my dad was in hospice care, he was prescribed an anxiety medicine to take as needed. He was not afraid of death—he welcomed it. The anxiety came from other physical things happening in his body in the dying process. We must first name the fear before we can overcome it and discern if it is a healthy fear or a spiritual attack.

2. Be curious about your fear. Is it a reasonable fear? If not, why are you afraid? If yes, do you have any control? Why is this particular fear so effective with you?

3. Wonder about the reason for the attack. If the fear is a spiritual attack, what is the goal of the devil? Does he want to stop something or slow it down? Does he want to disturb your peace? Does he want to damage your relationship with God or others? Does he want to distort your image as a beloved child of God? A spiritual attack always has a purpose. Try to discern what it is for you.

4. Identify the lies and reject them. Some lies may have a kernel of truth, so dig deep to discover the lie. Then replace it with the Word of God. If you spend time reading and reflecting on Scripture, you will more easily recognize lies and know the truth that sets you free. The devil tempted Jesus in the desert for 40 days, twisting the words of Scripture. Jesus responded with the proper meaning of Scripture. Know the word of God and reject the lies that feed your fears.

5. Take action. Don't let fear stop you from an action you believe is God's will. What can you do to mitigate the risk? Do it. If you have no control, pray. Even when you have some control, pray. Prayer will ALWAYS be one action to take. There may be other actions to take as well, more than just "feel the fear and do it anyway."

Sometimes fear leads to a panic attack. This is a physical reaction where you cannot think clearly. You can't breathe. Your heart is racing. You may think you're having a heart attack. This does not indicate that you lack faith in God. It may not be a spiritual attack, but it can be used as one. You have a panic attack, and the devil taunts you with an accusation that you don't have enough faith. Your faith (or lack of it) is not the cause of your panic attack. Don't let the enemy deceive you.

Ultimately, when fear works, it is because we don't trust God in all things. We may have a distorted image of God. That's not to say that nothing bad will ever happen if I have faith. After all, most of the apostles died as martyrs. From an earthly perspective, that's not good. So we may have tragedies, health problems, financial struggles, and more. The question is, do we trust God in good times and in bad? Do we believe that He loves us and only desires the best for us? Can we accept that sometimes what is best for us is also difficult?

There are lions and tigers and bears out there. But Dorothy and her friends linked arms and headed down the yellow brick road together. With God's grace, we can overcome the fears that come in a spiritual attack. We can be certain that perfect love casts out fear. Don't let the devil win. Trust in God. He loves you more than you can know.

Questions for prayer:

1. Where and when does the enemy use the spiritual attack of fear in your life? Why does that attack work?

2. What action can you take to resist the fear attack? Who can help you gain perspective when under attack?