Throughout our days, we are presented with all kinds of images that may tempt us to be afraid. The media often reports crimes, viruses, and diseases, environmental imbalances, global terrorism, and financial crises. It can be easy to believe that evil is lurking around every corner.
The effects of fear have been recognized on many fronts. Physicians observe that fear and stress are often behind physical problems, and economists note that fear feeds economic instability. So it’s clear that we need to gain dominion over fear—but how? We cannot “will” a patient or ourselves into not being afraid. But we can gain an understanding of God, the one infinite Mind, which cancels out fear.
In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy explains, “Fear is the fountain of sickness, and you master fear and sin through divine Mind; …” (pp. 391–392). She later advises, “Always begin your treatment by allaying the fear of patients. … If you succeed in wholly removing the fear, your patient is healed” (pp. 411–412).
