I forget which spy movie it was, but there was an agent who specialized in discovering what the enemy feared most and then exploiting that weakness to threaten them, extract information, or manipulate them. Once, he learned an enemy agent was terrified of being alone in a vast, empty place. So he drugged him, put him on a bed, and had the entire bed placed in the middle of a large stadium. When the poor agent woke up and found himself in the very scene he feared most, he went into extreme panic, even suffering a mental breakdown—the consequences were all too predictable.
A relative of mine is terrified of little decorative birds made of cotton fluff. They remind her of the shock of seeing a dead bird as a child. That fear stuck in her mind and has never faded, even in adulthood. In psychology, humans can develop many kinds of phobias, which are a form of anxiety disorder. When a certain object or situation appears, even though there’s no real danger, the person feels panic as if disaster were imminent and feels compelled to avoid it at all costs. More severe cases may even involve panic attacks and abnormal physiological reactions.
When a phobia is tied to a specific object, psychology offers several ways to treat it. For example, consider someone who is afraid of white rabbits. A therapist might begin with a ball of white wool and let the patient touch it. Because the patient feels no fear of the wool, there’s no problem. Then, in front of the patient, the therapist shapes the wool into one large and one small ball. The patient is fine with this, even curious enough to play with them. Next, the therapist puts the two together—the larger like a body, the smaller like a head. Adding ears and eyes makes it resemble a rabbit. By this point, the patient realizes that this “fake rabbit” poses no threat. The next step is to introduce a real rabbit, first at a distance and then gradually closer. At the patient’s own pace, they can eventually touch and hold it. The fear disappears.
For concrete objects, behavioral therapy is relatively straightforward. Abstract fears, however, are more complicated—such as the fear of ghosts. Movies and novels often portray ghosts as terrifying or gory. From the perspective of physical science, there isn’t enough evidence to show what ghosts are like. Yet many people still fear walking alone past a cemetery at night. Some believe that good people become angels when they die, while the wicked turn into ghosts. Therefore, cemeteries must be haunted by malicious spirits who still prey on the living.
When we accept a God-centered worldview, fear of the unknown can be overcome. The Christian faith teaches that, through the revelation of Jesus, we know God is loving, exists beyond time and space, and cares for His children. One day, everyone will be resurrected and judged. God will reward the good and punish the wicked with perfect justice. By His grace, those who follow Jesus receive forgiveness and eternal life. That’s why Christians do not fear death. We also believe that God reigns in the spiritual realm—even over evil spirits—so we need not fear any supernatural phenomena.
Even if life brings experiences that give rise to phobias, we can pray for a humble heart and the courage to seek help. By God’s grace, we can overcome fear. As we walk daily with Him, we find inner peace. His abiding presence is our greatest help against anything that frightens us.
