I used to think that when it says “do not be afraid” in the Bible, it meant we shouldn’t be afraid.

There are all those Bible stories where people were afraid, so I thought we were supposed to learn from their mistakes and live our lives free from anxiety and worry. And that’s what I tried. I would answer “how are you?” with “great!”, like it was a test of whether I was living by faith. In any situation, I would just believe that I wasn’t afraid. The alternative would be not obeying God’s command, so I wouldn’t even consider the possibility that I was afraid. I got really good at burying my emotions, and really bad at letting anyone in.

What’s actually happening in those Bible stories is that the people are afraid. That’s how they get their moment with God. He personally comes to them, talks with them, and tells them, in their current situation, not to fear. Because he’s tangibly with them. These powerful encounters define their lives, and we read about them thousands of years later.

If you want to meet God, put in the work to be aware of how you’re feeling, and share it vulnerably with him, before it’s all sorted out. Open the door for Jesus to come all the way in to the scary places. Listen to what his Spirit whispers to you there. Only then will you truly not be afraid. Because fear melts away in the presence of his love.