There are many meanings to the word "fear", not only in English but also in the Hebrew and Greek languages in which the Bible was originally written. "Fear" can mean great respect. "Fear" can go even further to mean deep reverence and awe, and we all owe God that kind of fear. "Fear" can be caution that encourages a measured response instead of a hasty one. Most often, though, we use the word "fear" to mean a terror that pushes us towards debilitating panic.

When we consider fear, we should also consider some circumstances that can bring about fear. Thinking about potential natural disasters, whether floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricanes, we can understand how natural forces could evoke respect, awe, and caution if observed from a safe distance, and terror if we are too close. We cannot predict the timing of an earthquake, and although building codes minimize damage, our best human efforts cannot save us from great loss if we are at the wrong place when an earthquake hits. The forces unleashed during an earthquake are far beyond human scale, and we are horrified at the destruction it can cause. In the face of devastating forces of nature, we are so small, so powerless, and so unable to protect ourselves.

Fear, even in the face of a natural disaster, actually does not come from outside of us—fear is our internal response to external circumstances. Fear can come from concern that we are not able to manage whatever it is that we perceive is threatening us, or concern that whatever we are facing is so much more powerful than we are. Because fear comes from inside, our fear can even build on itself, with anxiety breeding more anxiety.

The "fear" that is deep reverence to God will not take us into a cycle of anxiety. Our awe and respect of God reinforces that we are small and powerless compared to God, but it also assures us that God's awesome Love is greater than any threat we will encounter. We are not in control, but the essence of faith is to obediently follow and trust the One that is in control. With God, we do not need to feel fear—"there is no fear in Love."

How is it, then, that we are still fearful? In some cases, we bring fear on ourselves by attempting to exercise control on what we cannot. We try within our power to overcome fear by commanding every aspect of our environment, when the better and Godly way to overcome fear is by faith.

As John alluded in the first paragraph of this chapter, Evil will prey on our fears. Evil encourages us to doubt ourselves, to feel threatened, and even to succumb to our fears and yield to feelings of inferiority and inadequacy. These are forces that will deceive us so that our faith will grow weaker and God's influence on our lives will fade. One of the ways we can recognize Evil is by feelings of fear. "There is no fear in Love", so whatever is encouraging us to be fearful is not from God. "Do not be afraid", said the angels so many times in the scripture, and this angels' greeting still applies today. We should live our lives filled with awe and reverence because of the infinite Love that God has planted in us, but we must be on prayerful guard that fear will not have influence on us and divert us from the Way God is leading us.