Overcoming Fear Through Faith: Sunil Abraham’s Speech at St. George Indian Orthodox Church, Brisbane

Speech by Sunil Abraham Delivered on October 19, 2025, at St. George Indian Orthodox Church, Brisbane, for the St. Dionysius Prayer Group

Good evening, good evening to all! It’s wonderful to see you all here today, so vibrant and creative—truly inspiring!

Let me ask you something: What is the biggest difficulty or burden you face in your student life? Anybody? I’m talking about an emotion—a heavy emotion that weighs you down. Whatever you do, this emotion lingers. Any guesses? If someone names the right emotion, I’ve got a gift for you! I don’t have it with me today, but I promise I’ll get it to you.

Here’s a clue: it’s like when you’re dead sonar—stuck, frozen. Yes, exactly—fear! Great job! Fear is something we’ve all experienced, haven’t we? From childhood to adulthood, it’s always there. Kids might fear the dark, but as adults, we face different fears. Your fears might not be the same as mine, but we all encounter them.

Now, is fear good? Yes or no? Some say no, some say yes. As an emotion, it’s generally not good. But fear of God? That’s different—we should fear God in a reverent way, right? So, today, I want to talk about fear and how we overcome it through faith.

Fear has been with us since the very beginning—since the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, what happened? Fear crept into their hearts. That fear stopped them from standing in the presence of their Creator, who had given them everything. Genesis 3:10 tells us that when God called Adam, he replied, “I was afraid, so I hid.” That fear led to sin, pushing them away from God. It was the first time fear caused a rift between humanity and God.

Fear can lead us astray. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of not getting what we want—these can tempt us to lie, to cheat, or to chase things we shouldn’t. Fear can spark anger or unwanted emotions. It’s often the root of negativity and sin. But God, in His wisdom, has given us the Bible to guide us. How many times does the Bible say, “Do not be afraid”? Any guesses, especially from the kids? Yes, exactly—365 times! That’s one “Do not be afraid” for every day of the year. Every single day, God is saying, “Don’t be afraid—I’m with you.”

When fear comes—and it will, because it’s natural—you can face it by remembering God’s promise: “I am with you.” Fear opens the door to sin and darkness, but faith closes that door. Fear and darkness are closely linked. When you’re afraid, it’s like a shadow falls over you, and no light can get in. But can darkness defeat light? No! When light shines, darkness flees. Satan represents darkness, but in God’s presence—the true light—darkness cannot prevail.

John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Light defeats darkness, and faith defeats fear. Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “Fear not, for I am with you.” Whether you’re studying for exams, doing homework, or facing any challenge, hold onto that promise. Fear is the energy of darkness, but faith is the energy of light.

Philippians 4:8 encourages us to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. That’s positivity! By filling our minds with positive thoughts, we push out fear and negativity. Romans 8:31 declares, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” God is clear: don’t fear, because He is your strength.

Fear can also lead to temptation. When we’re afraid, we might feel like sinners, rejected by God, and that fear can spiral into more sin. But there’s a simple prayer to counter this—the Jesus Prayer: “O Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Let’s say it together: O Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners. This prayer can drive out fear and guilt.

There’s a story about a desert saint who faced temptation by visualizing Christ on the cross, with thorns on His head and blood on His hands and feet. That image alone was enough to overcome fear and temptation. Fear, darkness, and temptation are all connected, but they can be defeated.

In Matthew 4:1-11, Satan tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, using fear and doubt. But Jesus overcame it with faith. Similarly, we can overcome fear by trusting in God’s promises. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible’s message is clear: Fear not, God is with you, and you can overcome any difficulty.

But faith alone isn’t enough—love is key. 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear.” When we love God and have faith in Him, no fear can hold us back. We are God’s temple, and Christ lives in us. This is called Christ consciousness—the awareness that Christ is within you. When you carry this awareness, along with faith and love, you can cast out fear, darkness, and bondage, stepping into God’s eternal light.

Thank you, and may God bless you all.