The Surprising Virtue of Fear
Every day, my social media feeds are flooded with messages telling me to conquer my fears.
Fear of failing
Fear of risk
Fear of speaking up.
Society seems to have labeled fear as the enemy, a barrier keeping us from our dreams. And I've felt the truth in that.
But the more I think about it, the more I realize fear isn't entirely bad.
Without fear, I wonder, where would we be? Fear, in many ways, acts as our guardian. It's a built-in alarm system that whispers caution when danger lurks nearby. It's hard to deny the usefulness of fear; it's designed to protect us.
Fear also plays an important role in many faith traditions. The "Fear of God," is a virtue in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
But it often stirs discomfort. The idea of fearing a loving God might seem contradictory. Why should we fear someone who offers unconditional love?
The below Sufi Comic tries to answer this question:
Art by Charbak Dipta
To me, fearing God doesn't mean living in dread or terror.
It's about awe and deep reverence.
It's a recognition of the vastness and the love of the divine, and it guides my actions more than anything else.
This fear is about alignment. It aligns my mind, body, and spirit with the path of goodness. It acts as a moral compass, preventing me from taking wrong turns.
I believe the essense of this is expresses in the following verse:
“…those who had feared their Lord and restrained their souls from acting according to their desires Paradise will be their dwelling” (Quran 79:41)
I've come to appreciate that there are different types of fear. Not all fear is bad. Some fears protect us and guide us towards goodness.
For example, the awe we feel towards God can keep us on a righteous path. This type of fear brings us closer to the divine.
But other fears hold us back. They stop us from reaching our potential. These fears should be overcome.
How can we tell the difference?
Fears that align us with virtues are good. They keep us humble and caring. But fears that paralyze us from growth need to be faced.
The litmus test is this: Does the fear draw me nearer to God and goodness or does it hinder my spiritual and personal journey?
If it connects me to the divine, I should cherish that fear. If it disconnects me, I should work to move past it.
By seeing fear in this nuanced way, we can nurture the fears that serve us and overcome those that don't.
