In the Bible, God tells us 365x to Be Not Afraid.

What does this mean, how does this look in practice and how can we live this out?

For each of us it looks different depending on our state of life, environment and where we are in our faith journey.

Often we find ourselves in situations that require us to Be Not Afraid. These situations may be directly related to our Catholic faith or indirectly, where we need to call upon our Catholic teachings to make good and just choices.

Examples:

  • A wife asking her husband to attend mass together, or pray together.
  • Saying Grace before meals in public.
  • Discussing prolife issues with people who disagree.
  • Inviting fallen away Catholics to rediscover their faith.
  • Actively resisting Christian persecution in any way that God is asking you to.
  • Publicly defend one’s faith. (and more…get examples from ladies)

Often times, we are under secular pressure to lean away or give up altogether our Christian beliefs. This leads us to wrong choices, sin and separating from God. When this happens, or if you are thinking about times you have abandoned God and threw Jesus and the Church under the bus, please know that Jesus is waiting for you in the sacrament of confession. This will bring you peace and great strength to “Be Not Afraid.”

Many of these above situations may require a supernatural strength in order to Be Not Afraid and make right choice. Often, depending solely upon one’s own courage leaves one unable to act, weak and broken. This is when we have to really internalize and allow to take root the idea of “Submitting, Depending on and Trusting fully in God and his will for us. This dependence and trust is the source of living out His command of Be Not Afraid.

Often, in order to Be Not Afraid, we have to “die a little” to ourselves each time which is a form of martyrdom. This dying to ourselves and putting ourselves in God’s hands allows us serve God and His Church.

Here are some helpful hints to accomplish this:

  • Stay anchored in Christ
  • Keep your eye on the prize-sainthood and eternal life in heaven.
  • Prayer
  • Sacraments
  • Be open to God’s Grace
  • Know the battle is not yours, but God’s and He already claims victory
  • Recognize the maneuvers of the evil one and put on your spiritual armor (say St. Michael’s prayer)
  • Know God is always with you.

Solicit more ideas from ladies…

Testimony from ladies about their experiences….