Listening to the pastor’s sermon on ‘fear’ during the spring revival meeting, I thought of the terror felt by citizens currently caught in the midst of the war in Ukraine. I also deeply reflected on the economic fears of self-employed individuals who suffered massive business losses due to COVID-19 prevention policies, and the isolation and depression individuals felt when cut off from others by social distancing.

The fear of war, with its direct physical threat, or the anxiety stemming from economic pressure due to declining sales, might seem objectively greater than the internal sadness an individual feels. Ironically, however, while people desperately struggle to survive in the face of extreme external fear like war, those suffering from internal fear—depression—often cannot overcome their pain and end their own lives. Stories of people taking their own lives out of fear of war are rare, but cases of individuals making extreme choices due to the fear brought on by depression are all too common around us.

Even without psychological analysis, this phenomenon is deeply relatable. So how can we overcome this fear? I meditated on the answer through the words of the Bible. In the chaos and storm of war, if a miraculous being were to walk across the sea toward us, it would bring great comfort. If there were a miracle worker who could feed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish in the midst of desperate hunger, we would gladly follow them. Likewise, in the depths of extreme loneliness, when no one comes near, if there were someone who would listen to my story all night and embrace me warmly, those suffering from depression would not make such extreme choices.

This is like Jesus, who came back to Peter after he cursed his own master and denied him three times, personally grilled fish for him, and confirmed his love three times. I engrave the pastor’s words in my heart once more: “Fear is not something to avoid or fight; it is something to cover with love.”