I have a fear of heights. Not really an overriding fear, mind you. I can climb a ladder with no trouble. Stairs don’t bother me. I have even jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. But I do get a little queasy when I get close to a ledge. I used to be afraid of the dark. I think a lot of kids are. I had just gotten over my fear of it when I made the unfortunate decision to watch a scary movie. For a year afterward I was keeping the lights on again.
These are really called phobias, because they are recurring and persist for at least 6 months. The National Institute of Health says that about 9 percent of US adults have at least one phobia. What do we fear the most? Here are some of the most common phobias:
- Arachnophobia: an intense fear of spiders and other arachnids
- Ophidiophobia: an intense fear of snakes
- Acrophobia: an intense fear of heights
- Aerophobia: an intense fear of flying
- Cynophobia: an intense fear of dogs
- Astraphobia: an intense fear of thunder and lightning
- Trypanophobia: an intense fear of injections
- Social phobia: an intense fear of social interactions
- Agoraphobia: an intense fear of places that are difficult to escape, sometimes involving a fear of crowded or open spaces
- Mysophobia: an intense fear of germs, dirt, and other contaminants
These are very common, but here is another “fun” one I thought I would add (for you trivia buffs). Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is the fear of long words.
There is also a fear of angels. It’s called angelophobia. Why would anyone be afraid of an angel? Just read an account of one from Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 10:9-14
9 I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz. 10 As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 11 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. 12 Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. 13 I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” 14 Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
These angels are terrifying. But look at a more popular verse, this one from Luke’s gospel.
Luke 2:8-12
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
We don’t get a description of the angel who talked to the shepherds. What we do know is that the shepherd’s were “terrified” when they saw it. There is a reason that many angelic encounters in the bible begin with the angels telling the people to not be afraid.
Daniel 10:10-12
10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.
12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
There is an another instance of an angel saying don’t be afraid. Fear is mentioned quite often in the bible. And if you searched for every time we are told not to be afraid you would find a lot of passages.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Psalm 118:6
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Haggai 2:5
‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
Notice a pattern? What is the reason we are not to be afraid? It is because God is with us. If you have a child who is afraid of the dark and you ask that child to go down a dark hallway without you, what are the chances that child is going to do it? I don’t think it is likely. But you would have a lot better odds of success if you offered to go with that child, holding his or her hand as you walked down the hallway together.
Knowing that God is with you makes all the difference.