I recently read that approximately 6.3 million American adults, ages 18-54, will experience some type of specific fear in a year. What is interesting about this statistic is that it was compiled in 2003, before the current recession hit full force. One can only imagine what the fear statistics are at this point.

Coping with fear has become quite a challenge for many people. People live with the fear of losing their jobs and homes. Parents live in fear that their teenagers will fall prey to destructive behaviors or influences. Baby Boomers are afraid they won’t have enough in their retirement savings to support themselves in their golden years. The list goes on and on. 

I think we are all aware of the more common things people are afraid of, but many people suffer from lesser-known fears. For example, did you know that some people suffer from the fear of sitting down, known as cathisophobia? Or that a person can suffer from the fear of ideas, known as ideophobia? Some individuals are afraid of string and are diagnosed with linonophobia. Others have a very real fear of belly buttons, known as omphalophobia. 

People suffer from all kinds of fears.

My favorite quote is from World War II Gen. George S. Patton. He said, “Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.” I love those words.

I faced fear a week ago. I required a platelet transfusion due to bone marrow cancer, and though I was given premedications to ward off an allergic reaction, I nonetheless had a severe anaphylactic reaction. 

I am not being overdramatic when I say I found myself in a life-and-death situation. Had it not been for the immediate response of my doctor and nurses, I would not be sitting here writing this column.

I’d love to tell you I didn’t experience fear, but I did. This was my first encounter with having extreme difficulty breathing, and it propelled me into unfamiliar territory.

When I felt those first twinges of fear, I knew that if I did not immediately allow God to take over, fear would soon turn to panic. I remember consciously thinking, “I can’t control this. This definitely falls under God’s job description.” Then I silently prayed, “Lord, You are in total control. I’ll go with the flow of however You lead in this situation.”

I willingly accepted that I might be going to Heaven in a moment, or I might recover if He felt I still had purpose and needed to continue in my life’s journey. 

When I prayed, fear was still present. But after praying, and even though breathing was still difficult, calmness came that seemed to settle my innermost being. I knew I wasn’t going to panic.

Patton had it right: Courage isn’t about lacking fear, it’s about holding on when you are afraid. 

If you are afraid of something, you are not alone. Many people are living in fear. But you don’t have to be a victim to fear. You can turn to Jesus Christ and allow Him to help you. You can allow Him to bring you peace in the midst of your storm.

-- Philippians 4:6-7