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Do Not Be Afraid, Only Believe: Saints on Fear and Anxiety
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What the video says
When anxiety and fear cloud the mind, the first answer comes from Christ himself, who told Jairus, 'Do not be afraid, only believe.' Christ does not promise the absence of difficult news; he calls us to believe in him, to cast our cares on the Father who knows what we need, and to leave tomorrow to itself. Saints including Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra, Saint Macarius the Great, Saint Paisios the Athonite, Saint Basil the Great, Saint Barsanuphius the Great and Saint Silouan the Athonite teach the same trust in divine providence.
The fear of God sets every other fear in order, and prayer, especially 'Let thy will be done,' brings the peace of God that surpasses understanding. The burden of today is enough; imagined burdens of tomorrow should be cast upon God, who cares for us.
Key moments
- Christ tells Jairus, whose daughter had died, 'Do not be afraid, only believe.'
- Christ says 'Do not worry about your life,' pointing to the birds of the air and lilies of the field, and teaches that sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
- Christ says 'In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world'; Christian peace is the presence of Christ in trials, not their absence.
- Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra says to leave everything to God, who weighs and measures every cross for our spiritual growth.
- Saint Paisios the Athonite says God calls us constantly, and that 'no matter what happens, God will have the last word.'
- Saint Elias Miniatis and Saint Paul teach that God cares for all things: 'Be anxious for nothing,' and the peace of God will guard hearts and minds.
- Saint John Climacus and Saint Ephraim the Syrian teach that the fear of God places all other fears in order: 'Whoever fears God stands above all manner of fear.'
- The Philokalia compares providence to a man loading a beast according to its strength and a potter timing the fire, showing God knows the measure of trial for each soul.
The post gathers Scripture and sayings of Orthodox saints on how a Christian answers fear and anxiety. It opens with Christ's words to Jairus, whose daughter had died: 'Do not be afraid; only believe' (Mark 5:36, Luke 8:50). Christ does not promise the absence of difficult news; he calls for faith.
He teaches not to be anxious about life or tomorrow, pointing to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field (Matthew 6:25-34), and says that in the world there is tribulation, but he has overcome the world (John 16:33). Saint Paul commands the faithful to bring everything to God in prayer with thanksgiving, with the promise of God's peace (Philippians 4:6-7), and Peter and the Psalmist call believers to cast their cares upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 55:22).
The Fathers speak in the same key. Saint Macarius the Great says that if a person knew who was with him, he would fear nothing the world offers. Saint Paisios the Athonite teaches that God calls us continually, that people often turn to God only when danger appears, and that whatever happens, God will have the last word. Saint Basil the Great rejects the idea that events happen by chance, and Saint Elias Minjatios connects providence with the command to cast our cares on God.
Saint Silouan the Athonite says that when a person does not feel God's love, he should remember the Lord's mercy and continue in trust. Saint John Climacus and Saint Ephraim the Syrian teach that the fear of God sets worldly fear in order. The Philokalia compares trials to loads fitted to a beast's strength and pottery timed in the fire: God knows the measure of testing for each soul.
The post states that the Christian will still suffer and face uncertainty, but fear is answered by faith, anxiety by prayer, and suffering by perseverance in Christ.
Main points
- Christ tells Jairus, 'Do not be afraid; only believe,' and teaches not to worry about tomorrow, citing the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.
- Saint Paisios the Athonite teaches that God calls us continually and that, whatever happens, God will have the last word.
- Saint Macarius the Great says that knowing who is with us frees us from fear of anything in the world.
- Saint John Climacus and Saint Ephraim the Syrian teach that the fear of God places all other fears in order.
- The Philokalia compares providence to loads fitted to a beast's strength and pottery timed in the fire: God knows the measure of trial for each soul.