# Fear Into Faith: Overcoming Anxiety *Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.* --- > Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Susan Gammage, Fear Into Faith: Overcoming Anxiety, bahai-library.com. > ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── > > www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 2 > > Fear into Faith - Overcoming > Anxiety > A Baha'i Perspective > > By Susan Gammage > > © Susan Gammage, July 2013 Cover Design by Lynn Wright > > Approval by the Literature Review Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada Pending > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 3 > > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety > > Published by: > > www.susangammage.com > > Copyright © 2013 by Susan Gammage > > ISBN: Add > > No part of this publication (except quotes from the Bahá'í Writings) may be reproduced, > stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic > mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under the > Canadian Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Author. > > Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the author has used her best efforts in > preparing this book, she makes no representations or warranties with respect to the > accuracy or completeness of the contents and specifically disclaims any implied warranties. > The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You > should consult with a professional where appropriate. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 4 > > Dedication > > For Vera and Peter > > And for > Val and Karl > > And for > Michael and Sarah > > And for > Chris > > And With Profound Gratitude to the Divine Physician > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 5 > > Table of Contents > > What is Fear? .................................................................................................................. 7 > What Are We Afraid Of? ................................................................................................ 11 > Reactions to Fear .......................................................................................................... 16 > What is the Purpose of Fear? ........................................................................................ 26 > What about the Fear Of God? ....................................................................................... 28 > What Makes Us Susceptible To Fear? .......................................................................... 32 > Overcoming Fear .......................................................................................................... 41 > Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 41 > Overcoming Fear by Turning to God ....................................................................................................... 43 > Abandoned by God ............................................................................................................................. 56 > Drawing Closer to God ........................................................................................................................ 58 > Overcoming Fear by Reading the Writings: ............................................................................................ 72 > Overcome Fear by Focusing on the Virtues ............................................................................................ 75 > Overcoming Fear through Love .............................................................................................................. 82 > A Love Letter from God ....................................................................................................................... 94 > Overcoming Fear with Forgiveness ......................................................................................................... 97 > Overcoming Fear with Faith .................................................................................................................. 111 > Overcoming Fear with Patience: ........................................................................................................... 122 > Overcoming Fear with Courage ............................................................................................................ 126 > Overcoming Fear through Teaching and Service: ................................................................................. 131 > Overcoming Fear by Changing your Thoughts ...................................................................................... 135 > Overcoming Fear through Tests and Difficulties................................................................................... 144 > Overcoming Fear through Using Role Models: ..................................................................................... 150 > Overcoming Fear – Checklist................................................................................................................. 154 > What Can Others Do To Help Those Who Are Afraid? ............................................... 156 > Prayers to Eliminate Fear ............................................................................................ 159 > Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 163 > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 6 > > Introduction > I know fear very well, having suffered from anxiety my whole life, possibly back into the > womb, and I’m grateful I was able to learn how fear produced disease in my body and > learned how to recognize it, and say good bye. Now I want to pass on what I’ve discovered > to others. > > I’ve noticed that when we use the word “anxiety”, the problem becomes a medical one, > which needs medication to manage the symptoms; and it’s something we have to live with > for the rest of our lives, in one form or another (from worry and stress at one end of the > spectrum, to full blown panic attacks and generalized anxiety disorder at the other). So I > don’t like to use this term. > > I find it much more empowering to use the term “fear” instead. Fear gives us more hope > for reconciling the object of our fear, and changing our lives as a result. > > With that said, let’s look at a variety of ways to look at fear, and then look at what the > Baha'i Writings teach us about overcoming it. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 7 > > What is Fear? > The dictionary defines fear as: > > 1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the > threat is real or imagined > > 2. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety. > > 3. reverential awe, especially toward God > > 4. something that causes feelings of dread or apprehension > > 5. something a person is afraid of: Cancer is a common fear. > > Other words for fear include: worry, anxiety, panic, stress, afraid, dread, hypertension, > foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation > and qualm. > > The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), is used by psychiatrists or > GPs to help them decide which diagnosis a person experiencing mental distress should > receive. Their Anxiety disorder classifications include: > >  Acute Stress Disorder >  Social Phobia >  Generalised Anxiety Disorder >  Panic Attack >  Specific phobias >  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder >  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder >  Anxiety Disorder due to general medical condition >  Agoraphobia >  Agoraphobia without history of Panic Disorder >  Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia >  Anxiety Disorder not otherwise specified > > I like these definitions the least, because once it becomes a medical diagnosis, it’s in the > hands of the medical doctors and pharmaceutical companies and out of the individual’s > ability to change. It’s disempowering and unhelpful. > > Some people suggest fear is an acronym for: > > False Evidence Appearing Real > > False Emotions Appearing Real > > False Expectations About Reality > > Forget Everything And Run > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 8 > > Forgetting Everything About Reality > > Forgetting Everything's All Right > > Finding Excuses And Reasons > > Failure Expected And Received > > Future Events Appearing Real > > Future Events Appear Real > > Future Events Already Ruined > > Frantic Effort to Avoid Reality > > I like this definition best, because it suggests there is something wrong with our thinking, > which is in our power to change. > > However we define fear, some studies suggest that between 60-90% of visits to GPs and > other health care professions are stress related. > > Paxil and Zoloft (two of the more popular anti-anxiety medications) ranked 7th and 8th in > the top ten prescribed medications in the US (these two medications totaled almost $5 > Billion in sales in 2002). > > According to "The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders," a study commissioned by the > Anxiety Disorders Association of America and based on data gathered by the association and > published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 > billion a year, almost one third of the $148 billion total mental health bill for the U.S. More > than $22.84 billion of those costs are associated with the repeated use of healthcare > services, as those with anxiety disorders seek relief for symptoms that mimic physical > illnesses. > > Statistics from a recent global stress research study show that stress is felt worldwide, and > stress affects women differently than men (The Health Centre, 2006). A recent Roper Starch > Worldwide survey of 30,000 people between the ages of 13 and 65 in 30 countries showed > that: > >  Nearly one in four mothers who work full-time and have children under 13 feel stress > almost every day and report the greatest stress worldwide > >  Globally, 23% of women executives and professionals, and 19% of their male peers, > say they feel ‘super-stressed’ > > As long as we look to science to find the answers, we fall deeper into the hole and can’t ever > get out. When we look to religion, there are lots of answers from the Divine Physician, a > source we can trust. When we learn to apply the Divine Remedy, there is hope for a > complete recovery. > > Henry Wright, a Christian Minister who introduced me to the idea that perhaps as much as > 80% of all diseases are caused by specific sins (anger, bitterness, jealousy, fear, worry) has > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 9 > > coined his study “pneumapsychosomatolgy ®” or PPS. PPS is a field of study and > application that encompasses spirituality, theology, science, medicine, psychology and > psychiatry. It is a Biblically-based, integrative approach to health beyond disease > management. The aim is toward healing, prevention and eradication of disease through > understanding the principles of the spirit, soul, body connection. > > In a recent newsletter, he said: > > The terms for fear in today's society are stress and anxiety. We do not recognize it > as fear. The world tries to find other words to mask the Biblical perspective because > the world wants to deal with things psychologically. > > The activity of a spirit of Fear has been masked as a psychological defect and the big > word that hides our true enemy can be found in one term called "negative > emotions". But Paul said in Ephesians 6 that our war, our battle, is not with flesh and > blood. > > This opens a new dimension. No wonder we have not had much success in healing > for psychological and biological problems, even in Christianity, because we do not > recognize our enemy. We do not even see the kingdom that is working in us and > teaching us how to think opposite of our God. When we see the effects of it in our > lives, we just call it a psychological defect. > > Even in Christian psychiatry, with all due respect, when we see the imbalances of > body chemistry caused by fear (as in anxiety and stress), rather than getting them > out of our life and having our mind renewed (mind of Christ), we try to balance the > imbalance of chemistry through psychiatric drugs. That does not deliver us; that > does not heal us. It binds us to the problem without the true enemy being defeated. > > In fact it is an attempt to bypass the penalty of disobedience artificially without > taking responsibility for the participation with sin that caused the disease. This is key > to the equation of the pathways to disease and healing. > > Caveat: While I believe it’s true that anxiety has a spiritual component, the House of > Justice has said: > > Regarding your question about methods of healing which involve temporarily re- > experiencing or remembering events, these are complex medical matters and as > stipulated in the Teachings, believers should seek the best medical advice which is > available and follow it. Experience seems to suggest that the healing process can often > be a lengthy and stressful one requiring the close guidance and help of trained > professionals. Advice given by well-meaning believers to the effect that you should > seek to transcend psychological problems does not qualify as competent advice on > what is essentially a medical issue. (Universal House of Justice, 1985 Dec 02, Child > Abuse, Psychology and Knowledge of Self) > > Obviously I support their encouragement to consult trained professionals, and for some > people, this may mean medical doctors who aren’t trained in the spiritual realities of life. > > In the next series of articles, I want to look at what the Baha'i Writings have to say about > fear and anxiety, and hopefully by the end, those who are afflicted in this way will have > some spiritual tools to advance their recovery, in addition to any other tools they may also > find useful from other perspectives. As with everything in the Faith, combining religion with > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 10 > > science is always a good idea! Science has a lot to say on this topic – so my focus will be to > look at what religion has to say. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 11 > > What Are We Afraid Of? > In the April 2, 2001 issue of Time Magazine, there is an article listing over 4,000 different > types of fear. > > But it all boils down to just 2 things: Will I be OK, and what will people think of me? > > Will I Be OK? What will People Think of Me? > Money Friends > Health, Injury, Pain Bosses > Children Parents > Environment (Global warming; tornados, Baha'i Community > floods, tsunamis etc) > Schedules God > Cars Education > Food (GMO’s, additives, preservatives) Criticism > Safety Acceptance > Pets (can I survive their death) Failure > Phobias (snakes, flying, spiders etc) Looking silly or stupid and being laughed at > Tomorrow Bullying > The Unknown Divorce > > The Baha'i Writings give us a glimmer into some of the things we’re afraid of, and how to > understand the reality of our fears so that we can look at them differently. > > Will I be OK? > > Annihilation: > > The conception of annihilation is a factor in human degradation, a cause of human > debasement and lowliness, a source of human fear and abjection. It has been > conducive to the dispersion and weakening of human thought . . . If he dwells upon > the thought of non-existence he will become utterly incompetent; with weakened > will-power his ambition for progress will be lessened and the acquisition of human > virtues will cease. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith, p. 265-266) > > Danger: > > Bahá'ís should make it absolutely clear that we do not fear being placed in danger, > and are not asking to be given a safe berth in hours of national crisis -- quite the > contrary -- any dangerous service the Bahá'ís can render their fellow-men during the > agonies of war, they should be anxious to accept. (Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding > Destiny of the British Baha'i Community, p. 259) > > If thou didst hear the Call yet fear and the desire to preserve thy life prompted thee to > remain heedless to it, thou art such a person as hath never been nor is worthy of > mention; if thou hast not heard it, then thou art bereft of the sense of hearing.' In > brief, such men are they whose words are the pride of the world, and whose deeds are > the shame of the nations. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 61) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 12 > > Death: > > In the path of their Lord they shall not fear for their lives; rather will they sacrifice > their all in their eagerness to behold the face of their Well-Beloved when once He hath > appeared in this Name, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, the All-Glorious, the Most Holy. > (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 8) > > All men are in God's hands, and even if they do get killed we know there is another life > beyond this that can hold great hope and happiness for the soul. (Shoghi Effendi, > Lights of Guidance, p. 237) > > Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth not; wherefore fearest thou thy > perishing? Thou art My light and My light shall never be extinguished; why dost thou > dread extinction? Thou art My glory and My glory fadeth not; thou art My robe and My > robe shall never be outworn. Abide then in thy love for Me, that thou mayest find Me > in the realm of glory. (Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words, Arabic 14) > > Through his ignorance, man fears death; but the death he shrinks from is imaginary > and absolutely unreal; it is only human imagination. (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, > p. 264) > > Economic downturns: > > He hopes that the friends will display a certain amount of faith and courage and not > fear present economic conditions. We should not let financial considerations hamper > our work and discourage us in rendering our services. (Shoghi Effendi, Extracts from > the USBN) > > Evil: > > Fear not the manifestations of the Evil One. (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of > Hosts, p. 9) > > Future: > > The Bahá'ís all over the world are subject sometimes to suffering, along with their > fellow-men. Whatever vicissitudes befall their country, they will be protected though, > and watched over by Bahá'u'lláh, and should not fear the future but rather fear any > failure on their part to carry out the work of His Cause. (Shoghi Effendi, Dawn of a > New Day, p. 202) > > God’s Laws: > > Were His law to be such as to strike terror into the hearts of all that are in heaven and > on earth, that law is naught but manifest justice. The fears and agitation which the > revelation of this law provoke in men's hearts should indeed be likened to the cries of > the sucking babe weaned from his mother's milk, if ye be of them that perceive. > (Baha'u'llah, Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 6) > > Happenings of the World: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 13 > > O sincere servant of the True One! I hear thou art grieved and distressed at the > happenings of the world and the vicissitudes of fortune. Wherefore this fear and > sorrow? The true lovers of the Abha Beauty, and they that have quaffed the Cup of the > Covenant fear no calamity, nor feel depressed in the hour of trial. They regard the fire > of adversity as their garden of delight, and the depth of the sea the expanse of > heaven. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 309) > > Ignorance: > > Fear not the ignorant. (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 16) > > Materialism: > > In earthly riches fear is hidden and peril is concealed. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of > Baha'u'llah, p. 219) > > Poor people: > > Fear the sighs of the poor and of the upright in heart who, at every break of day, > bewail their plight, and be unto them a benignant sovereign. They, verily, are thy > treasures on earth. It behoveth thee, therefore, to safeguard thy treasures from the > assaults of them who wish to rob thee. Inquire into their affairs, and ascertain, every > year, nay every month, their condition, and be not of them that are careless of their > duty. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 236) > > Poverty: > > The fear of poverty should not deter them from sacrificing for the Fund, and that the > assistance and bounty of the Source of all good and of all wealth are unfailing and > assured. (Universal House of Justice, NSA USA - Developing Distinctive Baha'i > Communities) > > Separation from God: > > Thou seest, O Lord my God, the tears of Thy favored ones, shed because of their > separation from Thee, and the fears of Thy devoted ones in their remoteness from > Thy Holy Court. (Baha'u'llah, Baha'i Prayers, p. 145) > > What will Others think of Me? > > Abasement: > > Fear not abasement, for glory shall one day rest on thee. (Baha'u'llah, The Hidden > Words, Arabic 53) > > Blame: > > The blame of the blamer shall they not fear. (Abdu'l-Baha, Memorials of the Faithful, > p. 51) > > Attacks to the Faith: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 14 > > The recent articles attacking the Cause are a sign that its influence is sufficiently felt > to be feared -- a great compliment to the progress you are making in spreading the > message! (Shoghi Effendi, Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand, p. > 59) > > Consultation: > > They must also learn to really make use of the great principle of consultation. There is > a time set aside at the Nineteen Day Feasts for the Community to express its views > and make suggestions to its Assembly; the Assembly and the believers should look > forward to this happy period of discussion, and neither fear it nor suppress it. (Shoghi > Effendi, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 452) > > Discord: > > Guard ye the Cause of God, protect His law and have the utmost fear of discord. This > is the foundation of the belief of the people of Baha. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, The Compilation > of Compilations vol. I, p. 172) > > Ignorance > > Fear not the ignorant. (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 16) > > Making mistakes: > > It is indeed time for audacious action undeterred by a fear of mistakes, fired by the > urgency of ministering to the pressing needs of humanity. (Universal House of > Justice, Unlocking the Power of Action) > > Opposition: > > There is no need to fear opposition from without if the life within be sound and > vigorous. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 417) > > Others: > > . . . let the fear of no one dismay Thee, and be Thou not of them that waver. > (Bahá'u'lláh, The Promised Day is Come, p. 24-25) > > Punishment: > > In the conduct of life, man is actuated by two main motives: 'The Hope for Reward' > and 'The Fear of Punishment'. (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 157) > > See then how wide is the difference between material civilization and divine. With > force and punishments, material civilization seeketh to restrain the people from > mischief, from inflicting harm on society and committing crimes. But in a divine > civilization, the individual is so conditioned that with no fear of punishment, he > shunneth the perpetration of crimes, seeth the crime itself as the severest of > torments, and with alacrity and joy, setteth himself to acquiring the virtues of > humankind, to furthering human progress, and to spreading light across the world. > ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 132-33) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 15 > > Rejection: > > We must not allow the fear of rejection by our friends and neighbours to deter us > from our goal to live the Bahá'í life. (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, > p. 528) > > Knowing our station: > > Were We to reveal thy station, the hearts of men would be sorely agitated, their > footsteps would slip, the embodiments of vain-glory would be dumbfounded, would > fall down upon the ground, and would thrust the fingers of heedlessness into their > ears, for fear of hearing. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. > 207) > > Teaching: > > Warn and acquaint the people, O Servant, with the things We have sent down unto > Thee, and let the fear of no one dismay Thee, and be Thou not of them that waver. > The day is approaching when God will have exalted His Cause and magnified His > testimony in the eyes of all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth. > Place, in all circumstances, Thy whole trust in Thy Lord, and fix Thy gaze upon Him, > and turn away from all them that repudiate His truth. Let God, Thy Lord, be Thy > sufficing succorer and helper. We have pledged Ourselves to secure Thy triumph > upon earth and to exalt Our Cause above all men, though no king be found who > would turn his face towards Thee. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of > Baha'u'llah, p. 248-249) > > Unpopularity: > > Not by merely imitating the excesses and laxity of the extravagant age they live in; > not by the idle neglect of the sacred responsibilities it is their privilege to shoulder; not > by the silent compromise of the principles dearly cherished by 'Abdu'l-Bahá; not by > their fear of unpopularity or their dread of censure can they hope to rouse society > from its spiritual lethargy, and serve as a model to a civilization the foundations of > which the corrosion of prejudice has wellnigh undermined. By the sublimity of their > principles, the warmth of their love, the spotless purity of their character, and the > depth of their devoutness and piety, let them demonstrate to their fellow-countrymen > the ennobling reality of a power that shall weld a disrupted world. We can prove > ourselves worthy of our Cause only if in our individual conduct and corporate life we > sedulously imitate the example of our beloved Master, Whom the terrors of tyranny, > the storms of incessant abuse, the oppressiveness of humiliation, never caused to > deviate a hair's breadth from the revealed Law of Bahá'u'lláh. (Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í > Administration, p. 131-32) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 16 > > Reactions to Fear > When you're up against something you’re afraid of, you have 3 unconscious reactions: fight, > flight or let it paralyze you. These reactions were meant to get us out of dangerous > situations and then return the body to homeostasis. Unfortunately many of us grew up in > environments where alcohol, abuse or violence meant these reactions were frequently and > then permanently activated. Then as adults we entered a world characterized by stress, > further reinforcing reactions that were never meant to be a permanent part of our lives. > > What happens in the body? We know that our hypothalamus reacts to fear, anxiety, stress > and phobias as well as to rage, anger and hostility. All of these negative emotions send the > body into a “fight or flight” response, which puts cortisol into the blood. The cortisol is > supposed to shut off when the danger is over, but this doesn't happen when we have long- > term phobias and fears. We no longer have the homeostasis needed to maintain our health, > which causes dis-ease in the body. > > When you flee, you are programming yourself to flee every time you are afraid. If you > fight, you program yourself to fight every time you are afraid. If you freeze, you set > yourself up for a lifetime of apathy and lethargy, putting your life on hold and not > accomplishing everything God wanted for you. All of these reactions take you further from > God, leaving you alone with your idle fancies and vain imaginings (I’m not safe, he had it > coming, she caused it, I’d better not go out of my comfort zone). All of them cause you to > flee back into the prison you just escaped from; not something any of us want to do. > > The House of Justice shows what this looks like on a global scale: > > This projection of portentous happenings cuts across the divide in time between the > twentieth century and the new millennium, according to the reckoning of the > common era. It is a projection that underscores the contrast between the confident > vision that propels the constructive endeavours of an illumined community and the > tangled fears seizing the millions upon millions who are as yet unaware of the Day in > which they are living. Bereft of authentic guidance, they dwell on the horrors of the > century, despairing over what these could imply for the future, hardly appreciating > that this very century contains a light that will be shed on centuries to come. Ill- > equipped to interpret the social commotion at play throughout the planet, they listen > to the pundits of error and sink deeper into a slough of despond. Troubled by > forecasts of doom, they do battle with the phantoms of a wrongly informed > imagination. Knowing nothing of the transformative vision vouchsafed by the Lord of > the Age, they stumble ahead, blind to the peerlessness of the new Day of God. (The > Universal House of Justice, Ridván 156, 1999, p. 4) > > Fortunately Baha'u'llah understood all too well our frailties and reactions and has given us a > lot of ways to get ourselves out of this trap. We’ll get to those in a little bit but first it’s > important to understand how fear affects us so that we have the motivation we need to > implement the solutions. > > Fear Starts with Thoughts: > > Fear starts with thoughts. If we could interview fear, it might tell us something like: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 17 > > I’m a spiritual parasite and I need you. I will work you over slowly, engineer > circumstances in your life to get you to think about what can go wrong. I’m going to > give you pictures because fear always projects something that hasn’t happened yet. > I’m going to make you speculate through dread and morbidity and I’m going to project > into the future all the things that might go wrong so that I can get you thinking about > that and get you to forget to say your prayers or turn to the Writings. You’re listening > to me but over here you’re picking up messages at the soul level also. And if I can get > you to keep thinking about this, I know that the thoughts I’m giving you through > temptation will become part of your personality. You’re going to be so easy because I > don’t even have to tempt you any longer. I can just give you stimuli and your long > term memory will kick in. You’re in torment while fear is at peace, happy that it won. > > What you are meditating on or thinking about every day occupies your mind. You may be > meditating on the good things or you may be thinking about all the things that will go wrong > in your life today and tomorrow. > > Fear projects into the future. For example, you might think that because today was a bad > day, tomorrow will be too; or “nothing good has ever happened to me and nothing ever > will”. The object of your fear is not only being projected into tomorrow, but also yesterday's > projected fear is here today, and you find yourself back on the hamster wheel of fear. Fear > trains you how to think – then your thoughts become a part of who you are. > > God has a perfect will for you and He wants only the best for you. He wants you to > overcome your fear, but fear might tell you: > >  I don't know who I'm going to be without my fear. >  I'm afraid of who I will be if I don’t’ have my fear anymore. >  I don't want to get well because fear has become my identity (better the devil you > know than the devil you don’t) >  My finances depend on my being sick >  Being afraid gives me something to talk about. If I don’t have that, what will I talk > about? >  What if I don't need to take care of me anymore? Who will I be without my fear? > > We don't think these things consciously, but they do exist at a subconscious level. > > Fear affects our health: > > Fear, anger, worry, et cetera, are very prejudicial to health, while hope, love, joy, et > cetera, are correspondingly beneficial. (Dr. J.E. Esslemont, Baha'u'llah and the New > Era, p. 107) > > Sometimes fear will paralyze us neurologically. > > Sometimes if the nervous system is paralyzed through fear, a spiritual remedy is > necessary. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p. 65) > > Henry Wright, a Christian Minister who has done extensive studies on the spiritual roots of > disease suggests that as much as 80% of all diseases have a spiritual root of fear, stress > and anxiety. His book “A More Excellent Way” combines science with religion and I > recommend it highly. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 18 > > Fear becomes a self-fulfilling Prophecy > > Fear can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The fruit of fear becomes what you fear the most > comes out on you. Fear will try to help you get healed, help God out. It demands action > right now. It says that you know enough right now. If you think about something long > enough or often enough, it becomes your reality. > > The reality of man is his thought, not his material body. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. > 17) > > Fear causes us to act out: > > The sorrows, fears and perplexities evoked by this latest conflict in the unfoldment of > the Lesser Peace have intensified the feelings of grievance and outrage at the > recurrent crises agitating the planet. The anxieties of people across the globe are even > now being played out publicly in angry demonstrations too overwhelming to be > ignored. The issues they protest and the emotions they arouse often add to the chaos > and confusion they hope by such public displays to resolve. For the friends of God, > there is an unambiguous explanation for what is occurring; they have only to recall > the vision and principles offered by the Faith if they are to respond effectively to the > challenges posed by the spread of distress and dismay. Let them strive to understand > more deeply the Teachings that are relevant by reviewing letters of Shoghi Effendi > which have been published in The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, particularly those > entitled "The Goal of a New World Order", "America and the Most Great Peace", and > "The Unfoldment of World Civilization". (The Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 160, > 2003) > > Fear causes us to compare ourselves to Others > > If you listen to those lies you'll start looking around the room and seeing those who have > been healed when you haven't. Comparison will lead you into envy and jealousy, which will > lead into bitterness, separation from God, and further and further into the prison of self. > > Know, verily, the heart wherein the least remnant of envy yet lingers, shall never > attain My everlasting dominion, nor inhale the sweet savors of holiness breathing from > My kingdom of sanctity.(Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words 6) > > . . . greed, envy, covetousness, jealousy and suspicion prevent man from ascending to > the realms of holiness, imprisoning him in the claws of self and the cage of egotism. > ('Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 546) > > Fear disperses and weakens our ability to think: > > It has been conducive to the dispersion and weakening of human thought. (Abdu’l- > Bahá, Baha'i World Faith, p. 265) > > Have you ever met someone who was so afraid they can't even think? The ability to think > properly can be shut down by fear. That's what phobias and panic attacks are all about. > > Our lower nature use uses things in our environment to program us for fear. For example, I > was at a friend’s house one time and we were watching the Weather Channel and saw a > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 19 > > winter storm coming. My friend needed to stop everything every 10 min. for an update. > Although she was at home with lots of food, and didn't need to go anywhere, I watched her > get progressively anxious with every update. No amount of reassurance helped. Her fear > eventually turned into a full-blown panic attack and she was unable to enjoy our visit. It > was just a storm with some snow coming and based on what I was hearing, the roads were > still open and plowed, and I had every intention of driving home in it. Her fear was so high > that she wouldn't let me leave. Because I didn't want to give her anything more to fear, I > agreed to spend the night and leave the next day, when the storm had passed. The storm > wasn’t the problem. Her thoughts about the storm were the problem. > > Another example is that my ex-husband used to watch the Weather Channel too, and while > he had custody of our 10-year-old son, he saw another storm coming. Afraid that the roads > would be closed, he brought our son home a day early and even thought I wasn’t home, he > left him there. I was away for the weekend on a retreat with friends, not watching television > and consequently I didn't know about the storm. Sure enough, the storm hit, and the roads > were closed all around my friend's house, and I couldn't get home for two days, leaving my > son "home alone" for three days. > > Your fear is not about the thing itself, but about the thoughts and lies emanating from your > lower nature which torment you. > > A friend of mine told me: One time I went into Home Depot. There were fluorescent > fixtures there and I started feeling faint and sick and couldn’t see well. From then on, any > time I went anywhere where there were fluorescent lights, I started feeling miserable. Over > time I became programmed so that every time I went anywhere, I felt fear so I stopped > leaving the house. It wasn't the fluorescent lights that were bothering me, it was fear. It > was what I was telling myself about the fluorescent lights. > > Here's another example. Perhaps you read somewhere about toxic fumes emanating from > paint, so you don't paint a room that badly needs it. Then you won't go anywhere where > there is fresh paint. It's not about the paint itself, but that you've been taught to fear the > paint. > > We do the same thing with food. Between GMO, pesticides and additives, there’s very little > food that’s safe anymore. Obviously this has to change! There are ways of asking God to > protect us from the negative effects of the food, though, so we don’t all have to grow our > own and become raw foodists because of our fear. > > Because I lived in fear my whole life, and suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, > with its concomitant anxiety disorder, my therapist suggested I had adrenal exhaustion. > This made sense to me, so instead of turning to God and asking Him to help heal my > adrenals, I started researching adrenal exhaustion on the Internet and at the library. One of > the things I read told me that food intolerances fed adrenal exhaustion, so spending money > that should've gone for groceries, I went for allergy testing, and sure enough I discovered > that I had severe intolerances to just about everything I ate: wheat, gluten, dairy, yeast, > sugar, caffeine, potatoes, tomatoes, corn, soy, peanuts and chocolate. On and on the list of > things I couldn't eat went! Although I wasn't aware of any symptoms in my body, I > believed the fear generated from the book and proven by the tests. I came home and > immediately got rid of everything in the house that had any of the ingredients on my “no” > list and spent money I somehow found, buying replacements. Because the money > appeared as if by magic, I took this as a sign that God supported this direction by showering > His confirmations on me. The testing also revealed a severe dust allergy and since I had > three bookcases full of books (read dust and mold collectors) I was obsessing over how I > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 20 > > could find and afford bookcases with doors to reduce the dust in my bedroom! Fortunately > God introduced me to these teachings before I went off and spent more money that I > couldn't afford! Not only were my adrenals restored, but I was also healed of PTSD, > anxiety, depression and no longer have to wear a night guard to protect against grinding > teeth! I’m a believer! > > The moral of these stories is that when fear becomes one with the thing, our bodies respond > and give us a reaction, so we need to be discerning in what we watch or read or listen to, > and make sure we feed ourselves with a steady diet of Baha'i Writings, so we understand > the spiritual reality of the world as well as we understand the physical reality. > > Fear blinds you to the truth: > > If you see with the eyes of fear instead of the eyes of faith, that is a form of blindness. All > you can see is what's going on. You aren't seeing God in the picture. > > Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. (Baha'u'llah, > Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 93) > > Fear drives you to find a quick fix > > We think: We know that God is not going to worry, so somebody better and it might as well > be me, so we take over from God. > > Fear can drive you into being driven and God won't be able to meet you. Fear will tell you > you're supposed to be healed today, right now. In fact you should have been healed > yesterday. > > God often waits for the last possible minute before He answers prayers: > > He, as well as some of the other friends who are motivated by a great force of faith, > believe firmly that God's miracles will not fail to perform their wonders and at the very > eleventh hour the full sum will be collected. (Shoghi Effendi, Extracts from the USBN) > > Fear drives you to perfectionism > > If we have been driven to do things, then fear was at the root of what drives us. Being > driven comes from our lower nature. Leadership comes from God. > > Perfection in worldly things is a joy to the body of a man but in no wise does it glorify > his soul. It may be that a man who has every material benefit, and who lives > surrounded by all the greatest comfort modern civilization can give him, is denied the > all important gift of the Holy Spirit. It is indeed a good and praiseworthy thing to > progress materially, but in so doing, let us not neglect the more important spiritual > progress, and close our eyes to the Divine light shining in our midst. Only by > improving spiritually as well as materially can we make any real progress, and become > perfect beings. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 62-63) > > Fear is an obstacle to Service: > > . . . the fear and anxieties that distract their minds . . . are among the formidable > obstacles that stand in the path of every world-be warrior in the service of > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 21 > > Bahá'u'lláh, obstacles which he must battle against the surmount in his crusade for > the redemption of his own countrymen. (Shoghi Effendi: Citadel of Faith, p. 149) > > Fear leads to sin: > > Look at most sin and underneath it you will find fear. > >  We lie because we’re afraid we will be punished if we tell the truth. >  We gossip because we’re afraid people will judge us, and we think if we divert > attention to someone else, we’ll be safe. >  We steal because we’re afraid we can’t afford the things we want or need without it. >  We have sex with people we aren’t married to, in order to find relief from our fears. > > On and on the list goes. > > Fear makes us bury the treasure God has given us: > > I still get panic attacks occasionally, which are related to being exposed or seen. For > example, this weekend we were meeting with our Auxiliary Board member, and after the > meeting I asked to meet with him to talk privately about some issues I was having with > tutoring study circles. I was taking a LOT of risks in speaking very frankly about my > limitations, and after he was gone, I had a real panic attack from being so vulnerable. But > again, I knew what it was, where it was coming from, and how to get through it. In the > past, being seen meant the possibility of being killed, so coming out of hiding hasn’t been > easy! I want to put more of myself into my blog postings, but this too, is pushing me to put > this quote into practice: > > Thou art even as a finely tempered sword concealed in the darkness of its sheath and > its value hidden from the artificer's knowledge. Wherefore come forth from the sheath > of self and desire that thy worth may be made resplendent and manifest unto all the > world. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words 72) > > It’s a lot easier for me to stay “concealed with my value hidden”! I don’t think this is what > God wants or the world needs from any of us, though. So I push through, panic attacks or > not! > > Fear makes a slave of us > > Fear is an attachment to the world, which brings on bondage. We don't want to be in > bondage. Whatever rules us is going to make a slave of us. > > For attachment to the world has become the cause of the bondage of spirits, and this > bondage is identical with sin, which has been transmitted from Adam to His posterity. > It is because of this attachment that men have been deprived of essential spirituality > and exalted position. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 123-124) > > One fear brings on another > > Fear will control you and bring on other fears such as fear of others, fear of failure, fear of > being ourselves etc. For example: “I can't be myself because you might not like me. I > might fail you in your expectations of me, and then you're not going to want me around, > and then you'll break my heart and then I'm surely going to die. So now I'm afraid if you.” > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 22 > > Do you see how this works? Then we’re on the hamster wheel, going round and round with > our thoughts and spiraling down into self-pity (depression). > > We might even be afraid of trusting our whole selves to our Father, God. What would we be > afraid of? He may ask too much of us. > > Aside from the obvious problem of the gods of our parents having failed us, once we get > past that fear, we might still be afraid of something else. You can see how fear builds on > more fear until we truly lose all sense of faith. These negative thoughts have no fruit and > serve no useful purpose. > > But many things come to the mind of man which are like the waves of the sea of > imaginations; they have no fruit, and no result comes from them. (Abdu'l-Bahá, > Some Answered Questions, p. 252) > > Fear prevents us from mourning: > > How many mothers have not dared, through fear and dread, to mourn over their > slaughtered children! (Abdu'l-Baha, A Traveller's Narrative, p. 66) > > Fear prevents us from giving or receiving love > > When you have Fear, you are not made perfect in love. You are unable to give and receive > love without Fear. > > Love is a light that never dwelleth in a heart possessed by fear. (Baha'u'llah, The Four > Valleys, p. 58) > > In the hearts of men no real love is found, and the condition is such that, unless their > susceptibilities are quickened by some power so that unity, love and accord may > develop within them, there can be no healing (Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of > Universal Peace, p. 171) > > Fear removes all faith. > > Fear and faith both project into the future and both demand to be fulfilled. Without faith, > it’s impossible to please God > > Isn’t it amazing that you will listen to an invisible voice of fear and not listen to the invisible > voice of God? You need a new set of ears. You need to ask God to give you eyes to see > and ears to hear. > > If thy faith be fearful, seize thou My Tablet, and preserve it in the bosom of trust. > (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 103) > > Fear slackens our ardor and quenches hope: > > Take ye good heed lest this calamitous day slacken the flames of your ardor, and > quench your tender hopes. (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 349) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 23 > > Fear slows down progress: > > The fears and anxieties engendered by a steadily deteriorating international situation > which cannot but dismay the stoutest hearts, have no doubt contributed, in varying > degrees, and in no small measure, to a slowing down of the progress of the collective > enterprise, so nobly, so enthusiastically and so energetically initiated by the upholders > of the Faith . . . (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Indian Subcontinent, p. 298) > > Fear takes us out of the Present Moment > > Worry robs us of the present moment. If we’re always worried about what might happen, > and focus our attention on some imaginary future, we can’t be living in the present moment > at the same time. > > We want God to create our future and when we succumb to fear, fear creates your future. > > Of course, has worrying or being anxious or stressed ever changed anything? Has it ever > helped in any situation? Of course not! It just makes everything worse, and takes us > further away from God! > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá asks us to consider our thoughts and motives and to be ever mindful and on > our guard, so this doesn’t happen. When we are able to do this, we will find it easier to live > in the moment: > > Consider the motive of every soul, and ponder the thought he cherisheth. Be ye > straightway mindful and on your guard. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of > Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 315) > > Fear Becomes Who We Are > > You can become one psychologically and spiritually with fear. Fear can become part of you > biologically. > > Biologically through the mind-body connection you now have a disease called high blood > pressure, angina, heart arrhythmias all are fear-based. These diseases are all a response to > thoughts. How many times have you heard of someone going to the hospital, thinking they > were having a heart attack, to find out it was “only” a panic attack. There was nothing > wrong with the heart or cardio-vascular system. It was fear triggering these imbalances. > > If a man thinks too much of his health, he will become afflicted. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Throne > of the Inner Temple, p 22) > > Fear can even lead to covenant-breaking > > Mírzá Yahyá, for example, had no faith; only fear. He had access to the presence of God > and through fear, and envy, he lost it all. > > In a Tablet addressed to the Bahá'ís of Shiraz, 'Abdu'l-Bahá gives a detailed account of > the life of Mirza Yahya: his craven fears, his incompetence, his uxoriousness, his > constant flights from danger, real or imaginary. (H.M. Balyuzi, Baha'u'llah - The King > of Glory, p. 183) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 24 > > During Bahá'u'lláh's absence, news reached Baghdad of the martyrdom of a certain > believer of Najaf-Abad, near Isfahan. Mirza Yahya was highly alarmed, fearing that an > outbreak of persecution could lead the enemies of the Faith to him, the nominee of the > Báb, and cost him his life. With these thoughts in mind, he decided to change his > residence. With the help of a certain Mirza 'Aliy-i-Tabrizi, he bought a consignment of > shoes, disguised himself as a Jew and went to Basra where he remained for some time > and occupied himself in his newfound profession of shoe merchant . . . It was during > this period under the leadership of Mirza Yahya, inspired by his wicked advisor Siyyid > Muhammad, that some of the most heinous atrocities were committed. (Adib > Taherzadeh, The Child of the Covenant, p. 110) > > Fear can creep in without you noticing: > > Fear can come in quickly without you noticing. For example, here are a couple of stories > from friends of mine: > > One day my husband's heart was skipping a beat and I noticed he wasn't well. He’d > turned white as a sheet. I said a quick prayer and went the phone to call a Doctor. > He was put in the hospital right away and went through some tests. About six months > later, a friend called to tell me her brother-in-law had just died of a heart attack at > age 78. My husband knew he’d had troubles with his heart and he too was 78, so now > he started to think he could be next. We prayed and that night, his heart started > skipping beats again. Instead of panicking, I told him to ask God to forgive him for > falling back into fear. He said he didn't have any fear. I insisted and reluctantly he > did, and then he turned over and went back to sleep and so did I. The next morning > we were getting ready for work and he woke up to say that I was right. When he’d > talked with God, God had showed him how he responded when he heard that 78-year- > old had just died of a heart attack. He said a quick thought went through his mind: > “That could've been me”. That taught placed fear in his heart, and created the > symptoms of a heart attack. That's how quickly it can come in. Unless you’re paying > attention to your thoughts, you won’t be able to recognize what’s happening. > > Here’s another example: > > A few years ago, I had chronic hives for seven weeks. When they told me that the > root cause of hives was fear, I didn't worry about it, because I had taken care of my > fear. I’d done my homework and didn't have any fear anymore. Finally after seven > weeks of putting up with the hives, I decided to ask God "if I have any fear at all, > please tell me about it." I heard my head say: "I sure dread XXX." Maybe I only said > it once, but dread equals fear. I thanked God for showing me; took responsibility for > bringing on the fear and the hives; asked for forgiveness; cast fear aside and the next > morning I was free from my hives. That's how simple it can be! > > Conclusion: > > How wonderful it is to see God’s love at work and what He’s given us to work with. > > Love is a light that never dwelleth in a heart possessed by fear. (Baha'u'llah, The > Four Valleys, p. 58) > > Even so, it’s normal to have mixed emotions about fear: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 25 > > As we witness on all sides the growing restlessness of a restless age, we are filled with > mixed feelings of fear and hope -- fear, at the prospect of yet another deadly > encounter, the inevitability of which is alas! becoming increasingly manifest; hope, in > the serene assurance that whatever cataclysm may yet visit humanity, it cannot but > hasten the approaching era of universal and lasting peace so emphatically proclaimed > by the Pen of Bahá'u'lláh. (Shoghi Effendi, Baha'i Administration, p. 145) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 26 > > What is the Purpose of Fear? > In his book “If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have To Get Out Of The Boat", author John > Ortburg says: “Fear is designed to call attention to danger so we can set things right”. > > In the Baha'i Faith, we’re told that the purpose of our lives is to know and worship God, so > we can be pretty confident that every test we encounter will lead us to fulfill our purpose. > > We often see that we need opposites in order to grow. It seems to be part of God’s design. > In the Fire Tablet we read some of them: > > Were it not for the cold, how would the heat of Thy words prevail, O Expounder of > the worlds? > > Were it not for calamity, how would the sun of Thy patience shine, O Light of the > worlds? > > Lament not because of the wicked. Thou wert created to bear and endure, O > Patience of the worlds. (Baha'u'llah, Baha'i Prayers, p. 217) > > I think the opposite of fear is trust, and we can ask ourselves this question: > > Do you really trust that God will provide for your every need? > > Whenever I find myself falling back into the habit of thought which leads to anxiety, I > remind myself, and say out loud to God: > > I trust you! > > No matter what the fear is, this seems to banish it. > > If I’m afraid I’ll be stung by the bees flying on my balcony, I turn to God and say: I trust > you to protect me! > > If I’m afraid of being rejected for something I say, I turn to God and say: I trust you to put > the right words in my mouth! > > If I’m afraid of being alone, I turn to God and say: I trust you to be there for me, 24/7! > > If I’m afraid of trying something I’ve never done before and failing and being humiliated, I > turn to God and say: I trust you to help me through this and to be there to catch me if I > fall. > > I love this quote and remind myself of it often: > > Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love in > my heart all the world's afflictions can in no wise alarm me. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers > and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 208) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 27 > > It’s been set to music by Devon Gundry and the music video to go along with it is very > powerful. Click here to watch it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxa70NF_fPs > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 28 > > What about the Fear Of God? > We’ve talked about God’s love for us, but what about the fear of God? Where does that fit > in? > > It’s true, that we need both: > > Every Man is guided both by the Love of God and by the Fear of God. (The Universal > House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 499) > > So what does the fear of God mean, exactly? Shoghi Effendi described it with two > meanings, awe and reverence on the one hand; and terror and fear on the other: > > You have asked the exact meaning of the term 'Fear of God' mentioned in Bahá'í > Sacred Writings; it often means awe, but has also other connotations such as > reverence, terror and fear. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 237) > > It seems that humanity needs both reward and punishment, so God has given us both hope > and a warning. > > And it was this peerless Source of wisdom that at the beginning of the foundation of > the world ascended the stair of inner meaning and when enthroned upon the pulpit of > utterance, through the operation of the divine Will, proclaimed two words. The first > heralded the promise of reward, while the second voiced the ominous warning of > punishment. The promise gave rise to hope and the warning begat fear. Thus the > basis of world order hath been firmly established upon these twin principles. > (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 66) > > Fear of punishment or fear of the anger of God if we do evil, are needed to keep our feet on > the right path, not so that we cringe before Him as we would before a tyrant, but knowing > that His Mercy exceeds His Justice: > > You ask him about the fear of God: perhaps the friends do not realize that the > majority of human beings need the element of fear in order to discipline their conduct? > Only a relatively very highly evolved soul would always be disciplined by love alone. > Fear of punishment, fear of the anger of God if we do evil, are needed to keep > people's feet on the right path. Of course we should love God - but we must fear Him > in the sense of a child fearing the righteous anger and chastisement of a parent; not > cringe before Him as before a tyrant, but know His Mercy exceeds His Justice! > (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 239) > > Sadly, many of us grew up with tyrants and learned to cringe, never having learned about > the transformative power of love. God wants us to fear him and know of His mercy at the > same time: > > Fear ye the merciful Lord. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 40) > > In explaining the fear of God to children, there is no objection to teaching it as > 'Abdu'l-Bahá so often taught everything, in the form of parables. Also the child > should be made to understand that we don't fear God because He is cruel, but we > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 29 > > fear Him because He is Just, and, if we do wrong and deserve to be punished, then > in His Justice He may see fit to punish us. We must both love God and fear Him. > (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 237) > > Having a negative fear of God (that you are going straight to hell) is not the same as having > a Holy fear of God (where you know that God is awesome). > > A lot of people have grown up believing that God's going to get them if they do something > wrong; that if it doesn’t happen now, they’re definitely going straight to hell. The concept > of sin and hell are so imbedded in our psyche, it’s hard to hear Baha'u'llah’s explanation, > and even harder to let go of our childhood training. > > Let’s take a minute to think about these new concepts. > > The Baha'i Writings teach us that sin is imperfection and defects coming from the demands > of our lower nature. > > All sin comes from the demands of nature, and these demands, which arise from the > physical qualities, are not sins with respect to the animals, while for man they are sin. > The animal is the source of imperfections, such as anger, sensuality, jealousy, avarice, > cruelty, pride: all these defects are found in animals but do not constitute sins. But in > man they are sins. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 119) > > There’s a link between sin and health: > > It is certainly the case that sins are a potent cause of physical ailments. If humankind > were free from the defilements of sin and waywardness, and lived according to a > natural, inborn equilibrium, without following wherever their passions led, it is > undeniable that diseases would no longer take the ascendant, nor diversify with such > intensity. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 152) > > If the soul falls into sin, the body is in torment! (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 65) > > Surely this torment is hell! > > Shoghi Effendi agrees that hell is not a place but a state of being: > > Heaven and hell are conditions within our own beings. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of > Guidance, p. 519) > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá tells us such as hostility and hatred (emanations of the “fight” response to > fear) are the torments of hell. > > Think ye of love and good fellowship as the delights of heaven, think ye of hostility > and hatred as the torments of hell. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of > Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 244) > > Flight, Fight or Flee reactions all separate us from God, which is the greatest torment of all: > > But for the people of God separation from God is the greatest torment of all. (Abdu'l- > Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 265) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 30 > > These torments of hell do not have to be permanent conditions if we see their purpose is to > educate: > > That [ordeals, adversities and tribulations] which is for testing is for one’s education > and development, and that which is for punishment of deeds is severe retribution. > The father and the teacher sometimes show tenderness towards the children and at > other times deal harshly with them. Such severity is for educational purposes; it is > true tenderness and absolute bounty and grace Although in appearance it is wrath, in > reality it is kindness. Although outwardly it is an ordeal, inwardly it is a cooling > draught. ('Abdul-Bahá, Divine Art of Living, p. 85) > > We’re promised that God will forgive any sin if we ask for His forgiveness: > > Should anyone be afflicted by a sin, it behoveth him to repent thereof and return unto > his Lord. He, verily, granteth forgiveness unto whomsoever He willeth, and none may > question that which it pleaseth Him to ordain. He is, in truth, the Ever-Forgiving. > (Baha'u'llah, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 37) > > If we struggle with the idea that God has not forgiven us for something, we have a negative > fear of God, and it’s interfering with our ability to have faith. If we believe in a punishing > God, it’s hard to believe in an All-Merciful, Ever-Forgiving one. Perhaps that’s why most of > the prayers end reminding us of this nature of God. You won’t ever see God described as: > >  The All-Vengeful >  The All-Condemning >  The Never-Forgiving > > Are you afraid that God's ticked off because you blew it, or that he's going to stop loving > you? These are just superstitions: > > Abdu'l-Bahá replied that superstitions were of two kinds; those that were harmful and > dangerous, and those that were harmless and produced certain good effects. For > example, there were some poor people who believed that misfortunes and > punishments were caused by a Great Angel with a sword in his hand, who struck down > those who stole, and committed murder and crimes. They thought the flashes of > lightning were the weapons of this angel, and that if they did wrong they would be > struck by lightning. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p. 73) > > Read the biblical story of the prodigal son. Even though he’d squandered all his money and > lived a life against everything the father had taught him, he welcomed his son back with > open arms and threw a party. That's what God wants to do for us. He wants to throw a > party every time we come back to Him. > > The hearts are cheered whenever you are mentioned, the souls are comforted in your > love, the holy spirits are captivated by your fragrance, the eyes are expecting to see > you and the hearts are longing to meet you, owing to the fact that your hearts were > kindled with the fire of the love of God, your ears were charmed by hearing the Word > of God and your souls were rested in the appearance of the mysteries of God. > (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v2, p. 346) > > Remember that you have value before God. He created you because He loved you. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 31 > > Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My > love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and > revealed to thee My beauty. (Bahá'u'lláh, Arabic Hidden Words 3) > > He created you, knowing you’d make terrible mistakes in your life and despite this, He says: > “My work is perfect. Question it not.” > > With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; > and within thee have I placed the essence of My light. Be thou content with it and > seek naught else, for My work is perfect and My command is binding. Question it not, > nor have a doubt thereof. (Baha'u'llah, Hidden Words, Arabic 12) > > The only perfect human being was Abdul-Bahá. God doesn't need another perfect one. > He loves us even with all of our imperfections: > > O thou beloved of my heart! Verily, my soul longs for thee, for the lamp of the love of > Bahá' is lighted within thy heart and I love to look upon thy face, for it is glittering > with the light of guidance among the creatures. Glory be to Him who hath united > hearts together! (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v1, p. 129) > > Conclusion: > > When you blow it, (and you always will), God has given you the ability to do something > about it. Call yourself to account; ask God’s forgiveness, and determine to make today > better than yesterday. Then strive to put your actions in accordance with the teachings. > That’s all He asks of us. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 32 > > What Makes Us Susceptible To Fear? > Fear starts with thoughts. If you worry, it’s a sin because you’re avoiding a clear command > of God. Fear trains you until fearful thoughts become part of who you are. The Baha'i > Writings teach us that we can and should change our thoughts: > > When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of > hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring > destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris > Talks, p. 29) > > David Norris, in a presentation called “The Power of Good (with a capital G)”, said: > > There are no stressful circumstances, only stressful thoughts. When we get pissed off > and frustrated or tense, it’s not because the task is so big but because we have > decided to remain small. We have been silently searching for the easy route and have > unconsciously been willing to accept the lessor rewards and circumstances. Internally, > we have been asking for a Lighter load when we would have just as easily been > granted a stronger back, had we asked. > > Fear programmed us early in life and it can be part of our emotional makeup. It can be so > much a part of you that it becomes part of your personality. > > Part of your mind is aligned with what God has said is true, and part is aligned with what > your lower nature says is true, which can lead to multiple identities. Only one of these can > be true at a time. God wants us to be set free from this confusion. > > Let all be set free from the multiple identities that were born of passion and desire, > and in the oneness of their love for God find a new way of life. (Abdu’l-Bahá, > Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 76) > > Other ways of looking at this might be parent-adult- child, conscious/unconscious, or ego- > superego and id. > > When you agree with both of these, fear becomes truth to you. When we have the truth of > God and the truth of our lower nature, this leads to multiple identities. To become stable in > all ways is what God wants for us. I don't want to be double minded anymore. How about > you? I want to hate fear so much that I cast it away and rejoice in being single-minded in > God once again. You can hate the double mindedness but love yourself. > > Being double minded leads to torment. You don't know which voice to listen to. When > thoughts come to you from your lower nature, recognize them as idle fancies and vain > imaginings, turn to God and ask Him for forgiveness, cast them off and go do something > else. > > Fear goes from something that God can handle to something that's too big for Him. It's too > big for God. That's what fear thinks. But nothing is too big for God. We can be so focused on > fear that we lose sight of God. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 33 > > Fear started before I was born. I was born 10 months after my parents got married and my > mother always said that she didn't have time to get to know her husband before he became > a father. He was a very violent man and subject to quick mood swings. She was > undoubtedly affected by this throughout her pregnancy. During the birth process the > doctors lost my heart beat had to perform an emergency cesarean. > God had a plan for me but fear had established itself before I was even born, so that my life > was filled with all kinds of fear. > > It's so insidious that you don't even see it. Your lower nature tries to convince you that it's > your savior. It convinces you to take anti-anxiety medication so that the drugs can be your > savior and your healer. Whatever you start doing to get rid of the fear or to advance your > healing, instead of using the Word of God is bringing on a different kind of bondage. Not > only are you in bondage to fear but now you're in bondage to medication. Lifelong > management of your disease becomes a double bondage. If you take drugs to control your > fear they won't save you because you still have the spirit of fear in you. It didn't go away. > This can often lead to side effects and addictions. Fear begets fear. > > If you haven’t been loved properly, you don’t have the ability to give and receive love > without fear, unless the fear has been removed. Fear is directly tied to not being loved and > not feeling safe. Lack of love and the presence of Fear go hand in hand. > > Here are some other things which bring on fear: > > Attacks on the Faith > > You should not worry about attacks on the Faith, as these in the end cannot but > result in the further growth of the Faith. (Shoghi Effendi, High Endeavours - > Messages to Alaska, p. 28) > > Change: > > The two years that have elapsed since the passing of our beloved Master have been > for the Cause, as well as for mankind, years of deep anxiety and pain. The > momentous changes that are taking place in the history of both have proved so swift > and far-reaching as to arouse in certain hearts a strange misgiving as to their > stability and future. (Shoghi Effendi, Baha'i Administration, p. 50) > > Startling changes in recent years have profoundly altered the character of society, > plunging humankind into a state of anxiety. Everyone on the planet has been > touched in some way by the breakdown of religious and political institutions which > traditionally have provided stability. As disturbing as these dislocations are to > individuals, Bahá'ís view them as preparing the ground for the process of building a > new social order which can support a lasting peace. (Baha'i International > Community, 1993 Mar 15, Women Peace Process) > > We’ve lost our bearings through forces we can’t control or understand: > > We have toiled to build a community at a period when the world has witnessed > startling changes which have profoundly altered the character of society and plunged > it into an unprecedented state of worry and confusion. Indeed, the world in its > current condition has lost its bearings through the operation of forces it neither > understands nor can control. (The Universal House of Justice, 1992 Nov 26, Second > Message to World Congress, p. 2) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 34 > > Too much change, too quickly: > > In the wake of such horrendous disruptions, there have been unexampled advances in > the realms of science, technology and social organization; a veritable explosion of > knowledge; and an even more remarkable burgeoning in the awakening and rise of > masses of humanity which were previously presumed to be dormant. These masses > are claiming their rightful places within the community of nations which has greatly > expanded. With the simultaneous development of communications at the speed of > light and transportation at the speed of sound, the world has contracted into a mere > neighbourhood in which people are instantly aware of each other's affairs and have > immediate access to each other. And yet, even with such miraculous advances, with > the emergence of 7 international organizations, and with valiant attempts and > brilliant successes at international cooperation, nations are at woeful odds with one > another, people are convulsed by economic upheavals, races feel more alienated than > before and are filled with mistrust, humiliation and fear. (26 November 1992, > message from the Universal House of Justice to the Baha’i’s of the World, Second > Baha’i World Congress, New York) > > Day to Day Pressures: > > In reading over my diaries - so very little of which I have quoted out of hundred of > pages written off and on throughout the years - it seems strange to me there is > practically no reference to the World War raging everywhere during almost six years > and constituting such a dire threat to the safety of the World Centre of the Faith and > particularly to the Guardian himself as Head of that Faith. Nothing could more > eloquently testify to the internal upheavals he was going through during all those > years than this blank. The day-to-day pressures and the work, worry and mental > exhaustion were so great that it crowded mention of this constant threat and anxiety > into the background. (Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Priceless Pearl, p. 177) > > Decline of the Old World Order: > > The sorrows, fears and perplexities evoked by this latest conflict in the unfoldment of > the Lesser Peace have intensified the feelings of grievance and outrage at the > recurrent crises agitating the planet. The anxieties of people across the globe are > even now being played out publicly in angry demonstrations too overwhelming to be > ignored. The issues they protest and the emotions they arouse often add to the > chaos and confusion they hope by such public displays to resolve. For the friends of > God, there is an unambiguous explanation for what is occurring; they have only to > recall the vision and principles offered by the Faith if they are to respond effectively > to the challenges posed by the spread of distress and dismay. Let them strive to > understand more deeply the Teachings that are relevant by reviewing letters of > Shoghi Effendi which have been published in The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, > particularly those entitled "The Goal of a New World Order", "America and the Most > Great Peace", and "The Unfoldment of World Civilization". (The Universal House of > Justice, Ridván 160, 2003) > > Eventually, as an ever-evolving civilization exhausts its spiritual sources, a process of > disintegration sets in, as it does throughout the phenomenal world. Turning again to > analogies offered by nature, Bahá'u'lláh compares this hiatus in the development of > civilization to the onset of winter. Moral vitality diminishes, as does social cohesion. > Challenges which would have been overcome at an earlier age, or been turned into > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 35 > > opportunities for exploration and achievement, become insuperable barriers. Religion > loses its relevance, and experimentation becomes increasingly fragmented, further > deepening social divisions. Increasingly, uncertainty about the meaning and value of > life generates anxiety and confusion. (Baha'i International Community, 1992 May > 29, Statement on Baha'u'llah, p. 14) > > We have toiled to build a community at a period when the world has witnessed > startling changes which have profoundly altered the character of society and plunged > it into an unprecedented state of worry and confusion. (The Universal House of > Justice, 1997 Aug 13, Science and Religion, p. 6) > > The friends need not have any grave anxiety as to the immediate developments of > the present situation. (Shoghi Effendi, Extracts from the USBN) > > Doubt: > > If thou dost ponder a while, it will be evident that it is incumbent upon a lowly > servant to acquiesce to whatever proof God hath appointed, and not to follow his > own idle fancy. (The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 122) > > And when the heart is turned unto the Sun, then the eye will be opened and will > recognize the Sun through the Sun itself. Then man will be in no need of arguments > (or proofs), for the Sun is altogether independent, and absolute independence is in > need of nothing, and proofs are one of the things of which absolute independence > has no need. Be not like Thomas; be thou like Peter. I hope you will be healed > physically, mentally and spiritually. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith, p. 383-384) > > Let the doubter arise, and himself verify the truth of such assertions. (Shoghi > Effendi, Messages to America, p. 17) > > We are certain that when you share this letter with the friends and they have these > quotations from the Scriptures and the Writings of the Guardian drawn to their > attention, their doubts and misgivings will be dispelled and they will be able to > devote their every effort to spreading the Message of Bahá'u'lláh, serenely confident > in the power of His Covenant to overcome whatever tests an inscrutable Providence > may shower upon it, thus demonstrating its ability to redeem a travailing world and > to upraise the Standard of the Kingdom of God on earth. (Shoghi Effendi, Wellspring > of Guidance, p. 44-56) > > Since we are all imperfect and have to learn the perfect standard which Bahá'u'lláh > has unveiled, there are often things in the Teachings themselves which individual > believers find difficult, and which they have to strive to learn and understand. All the > believers are growing and this is a gradual process. Each one, as you say, must > develop wisdom, and with this must realize the fundamental importance of the unity > of the community and the bond of love and affection among the believers, for the > sake of which he will sacrifice many things. ... (The Universal House of Justice, > Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 631) > > In the early days of the Faith in Isfahan, when I began to study the Tablets and > Writings of the Báb, and listen to the explanations of the friends, I found the proofs > of His Revelation convincing and conclusive and the testimonies supremely sound > and perfect. So I was assured in myself that this Cause was the Cause of God and > the Manifestation of His Grandeur, the dawning of the Day-Star of Truth promised to > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 36 > > be revealed by the Almighty. But when I was alone with no one to talk to, I was > often overtaken with doubts. The idle fancies of my past life, and the whisperings of > the evil one were tempting me... God knows how much I wept and how many nights > I stayed awake till morning. There were days when I forgot to eat because I was so > immersed in my thoughts. I tried by every means to relieve myself of these doubts. > Several times I became steadfast in the Cause and believed, but later I would waver > and become perplexed and dismayed. (Adib Taherzadeh, Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, > v2, p. 197) > > The only remedy for the individual who still has a glimmer of faith in his heart, but > who has doubts about the Cause, is to admit that he may be wrong in his > assessment of the teachings of the Faith, to affirm that Bahá'u'lláh's knowledge is of > God, and to surrender his feelings and thoughts completely to Him. Once he submits > himself in this way and perseveres in doing so with sincerity and truthfulness, the > channels of the grace of God open and his heart becomes the recipient of the light of > true knowledge. He will discover, some time in his life, either by intuition or through > prayer and meditation, the answer to all his problems and objections. Every trace of > conflict will disappear from his mind. He will readily understand the reasons behind > those very teachings which previously baffled his intellect, and will find many > mysteries enshrined in the utterances of Bahá'u'lláh, mysteries of which he was > completely unaware in earlier days. (Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah > v 2, p. 218-219) > > Excessive desires and the resulting distress and anxiety when they don’t come > through: > > Distress and anxiety have waxed great and every flourishing region is laid waste. O > Lord! Hearts are heavy, and souls are in anguish. Have mercy on these poor souls > and do not leave them to the excesses of their own desires. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of > the Divine Plan, p. 57) > > Exhaustion from the pressure to get things done: > > When I remonstrated with him about standing for so many hours to do this work > when he was still so exhausted and begged him to wait a few days until he was > feeling stronger, he said "No, I must finish it, it is worrying me. (Ruhiyyih Khanum, > The Priceless Pearl, p. 446) > > Forces of darkness > > We are moved therefore to express our warm commendation for your assertion of > such qualities of leadership at a time when the Army of Light must of necessity be > doubly mobilized to counter the march of forces of darkness that are wreaking fear > and confusion in the hearts of people everywhere. (The Universal House of > Justice, 2002 April 26, US NSA 5 Year Plan - Lines of Action a Welcome > Integration.htm, p. 1) > > Distress and anxiety have waxed great and every flourishing region is laid waste. O > Lord! Hearts are heavy, and souls are in anguish. Have mercy on these poor souls > and do not leave them to the excesses of their own desires. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of > the Divine Plan, p. 57) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 37 > > Illness: > > He was very sad to hear that you have not been well, for it undoubtedly caused > much anxiety to the members of your family and also kept you from your work. The > Cause cannot afford seeing its fine servants ill and handicapped. Please take great > care of yourself that the attack may not recur. (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the > Indian Subcontinent, p. 77) > > Knowledge: > > We’ve heard it said “sometimes a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. Sometimes a little > of the wrong kind of knowledge can kill us! Since 1961, scientists have known about the > "nocebo phenomenon". According to this reverse placebo effect, a patient will become sick > or sicker after being told of negative side effects, or on being informed of specifics about an > illness just diagnosed. > > Medicine has become increasingly fear-based. For example, doctors encourage patients to > have regular mammograms, colonoscopies, etc. They justify the expense by saying things > like: "we tell everyone of this age to get one, because we know X percentage of people in > your age group will get cancer, polyps etc”. So we go because we don’t to be part of that > percentage. We’re afraid we might be and are hoping for early detection of something that > was planted in our minds as a possibility. > > Pharmaceutical companies are now advertising their products and are required by law to > alert consumers to all the side effects. The advertiser’s goal is to trigger people’s fear so > they think that they need such a product; and at the same time, produces a fear of what > might happen if they take it. > > Such seeds sow fear in people's minds, consciously or subconsciously. Where previously we > hadn't even considered the possibility of contracting a certain disease, now we start > worrying about it, and now every little abdominal pain feeds the worry. Some studies > suggest that the current high rates of colon and rectal cancers are linked with the amount of > information in the media that there is a high rate of colon and rectal cancers. > > Perhaps this is why 'Abdu’l-Bahá says the only time it’s OK to lie is for a doctor to tell > someone he’s getting better: > > If a doctor consoles a sick man by saying: “Thank God you are better, and there is > hope of your recovery,” though these words are contrary to the truth, yet they may > become the consolation of the patient and the turning-point of the illness. This is not > blameworthy. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í World Faith, p. 320) > > He understood the power of negative thinking on our health! > > Lack of Education: > > This is why studying the right kind of education is so important. > > Do not thou worry that thou couldst not study in the material schools, because thou > hast received lessons in the Verses of the Oneness (of God) in the Divine University. > (Shoghi Effendi, Japan Will Turn Ablaze, p. 37) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 38 > > Major Plan of God > > The Major Plan of God is at work throughout the world, hastening the disintegration > of the old order as the new one unfolds. While it is propelling forward a social > transformation of a magnitude never before witnessed, fear and uncertainty grip the > consciousness of a majority of the world's people, > who remain unaware of God's purpose in this Day. (The Universal House of Justice, > 2001 Nov 12, International Endowment Fund) > > Materialism: > > The gross materialism that engulfs the entire nation at the present hour; the > attachment to worldly things that enshrouds the souls of men; the fear and anxieties > that distract their minds; the pleasure and dissipations that fill their time, the > prejudices and animosities that darken their outlook, the apathy and lethargy that > paralyze their spiritual faculties -- these are among the formidable obstacles that > stand in the path of every world-be warrior in the service of Bahá'u'lláh, obstacles > which he must battle against the surmount in his crusade for the redemption of his > own countrymen. (Shoghi Effendi: Citadel of Faith, p. 149) > > Need for Money > > The problem that in these days is arousing his (Shoghi Effendi's) anxiety is the way > this large sum is to be collected in such a very short period of time, to resume the > building operations right after the convention. He, as well as some of the other > friends who are motivated by a great force of faith, believe firmly that God's miracles > will not fail to perform their wonders and at the very eleventh hour the full sum will > be collected. Shoghi Effendi wishes you to express his loving greetings to all the > friends in Wilmette and ask them to join with him in their moments of private prayer > and meditation, and ask God not to fail them, but as heretofore send them His > confirmations and blessings. (Shoghi Effendi, Extracts from the USBN) > > Not Reflecting on the Causes: > > Though the world is encompassed with misery and distress, yet no man hath paused > to reflect what the cause or source of that may be. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of > Baha'u'llah, p.163) > > Problems and Complications at Work: > > He himself, having undertaken at such a disturbed time to raise at least the first > story or arcade of the new part of the Báb's Shrine, finds himself beset with worries, > problems and complications which have not only doubled his work, but exhaust and > harass him all the time. So at least, let the British friends know that when they > struggle and feel hard beset, they are not struggling and worrying alone! Far from > it!! (Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha'i Community, p. 225) > > Selfishness (being anxious to make their fortune): > > We perceive that men are carried away by passion and selfishness, each man > thinking only of what will benefit himself even if it means the ruin of his brother. > They are all anxious to make their fortune and care little or nothing for the welfare of > others. They are concerned about their own peace and comfort, while the condition > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 39 > > of their fellows troubles them not at all. Unhappily this is the road most men tread. > (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 80) > > Service to the Faith: > > What with his speaking, deepening the believers, translating, traveling, worrying, his > [Khan] soul 'wore out the sheath', and he was frail and often ill. (Marzieh Gail, > Arches of the Years, p. 36) > > Striving to meet the Standards of the Faith: > > To be required to be happy and assured, while busily serving the Cause, can raise in > us more than a little anxiety. (Universal House of Justice, Quickeners of Mankind, p. > 116) > > Turning away from God: > > As they gradually strayed from the path of their Ideal Leader and Master, as they > turned away from the Light of God and corrupted the principle of His Divine unity, and > as they increasingly centered their attention upon them who were only the revealers > of the potency of His Word, their power was turned into weakness, their glory into > shame, their courage into fear. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of > Baha'u'llah, p. 69) > > Turning to the Wrong Place for Answers: > > Whenever the True Counsellor uttered a word in admonishment, lo, they all > denounced Him as a mover of mischief and rejected His claim. How bewildering, how > confusing is such behaviour! (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p.163) > > Uncertainty about the Meaning and Value of Life: > > Increasingly, uncertainty about the meaning and value of life generates anxiety and > confusion. (Baha'i International Community, 1992 May 29, Statement on > Baha'u'llah, p. 14) > > Using non-Baha'i Methodologies: > > This seminar seems to have provided a very valuable forum for the discussion of a > number of aspects of Bahá'í scholarship, and the airing of certain problems which > have been worrying some of the friends in relationship to their work and to their > fellow believers. We believe that many of the problems arise from an attempt by > some Bahá'í scholars to make use of methodologies devised by non-Bahá'ís without > thinking through the implications of such a course and without working out a > methodology which would be in consonance with the spirit of the Faith. (The > Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 388) > > Wanting Instant Gratification: > > We feel that an over-anxiousness on your part about a breakthrough and an undue > worry over the state of society can be counter-productive. While there are > opportunities for greater growth than is occurring, neither your Assembly nor the > friends must burden themselves with feelings of failure at every disappointment, for > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 40 > > such feelings are self-fulfilling and can easily cause stagnation in the expansion of > the Cause. The tendency toward frustration, sometimes induced by a desire for > instant gratification, must be resisted by an effort to gain deeper appreciation of the > divine process. (Universal House of Justice, NSA USA - Developing Distinctive Baha'i > Communities) > > War and Calamities: > > Behold the disturbances which, for many a long year, have afflicted the earth, and > the perturbation that hath seized its peoples. It hath either been ravaged by war, or > tormented by sudden and unforeseen calamities. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, > p.163) > > Work - The way we orient ourselves towards work: > > Consider how difficult for man is the attainment of pleasures and happiness in this > mortal world. How easy it is for the animal. Look upon the fields and flowers, > prairies, streams, forests and mountains. The grazing animals, the birds of the air, > the fishes neither toil nor undergo hardships; they sow not, nor are they concerned > about the reaping; they have no anxiety about business or politics -- no trouble or > worry whatsoever. All the fields and grasses, all the meadows of fruits and grains, all > the mountain slopes and streams of salubrious water belong to them. They do not > labor for their livelihood and happiness because everything is provided and made > possible for them. If the life of man be confined to this physical, material outlook, > the animal's life is a hundred times better, easier and more productive of comfort > and contentment. The animal is nobler, more serene and confident because each > hour is free from anxiety and worriment; but man, restless and dissatisfied, runs > from morn till eve, sailing the seas, diving beneath them in submarines, flying aloft > in airplanes, delving into the lowest strata of the earth to obtain his livelihood -- all > with the greatest difficulty, anxiety and unrest. Therefore, in this respect the animal > is nobler, more serene, poised and confident. Consider the birds in the forest and > jungle: how they build their nests high in the swaying treetops, build them with the > utmost skill and beauty -- swinging, rocking in the morning breezes, drinking the > pure, sweet water, enjoying the most enchanting views as they fly here and there > high overhead, singing joyously -- all without labor, free from worry, care and > forebodings. If man's life be confined to the elemental, physical world of enjoyment, > one lark is nobler, more admirable than all humanity because its livelihood is > prepared, its condition complete, its accomplishment perfect and natural. But the > life of man is not so restricted; it is divine, eternal, not mortal and sensual. For him a > spiritual existence and livelihood is prepared and ordained in the divine creative plan. > His life is intended to be a life of spiritual enjoyment to which the animal can never > attain. This enjoyment depends upon the acquisition of heavenly virtues. The > sublimity of man is his attainment of the knowledge of God. The bliss of man is the > acquiring of heavenly bestowals, which descend upon him in the outflow of the > bounty of God. The happiness of man is in the fragrance of the love of God. This is > the highest pinnacle of attainment in the human world. How preferable to the animal > and its hopeless kingdom! (Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. > 184-185) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 41 > > Overcoming Fear > > Introduction > How can we get free of this mess? > > Whatever we call it, we all need to rise up, take back our lives and claim what fear has > stolen from us. > > It's time to get whole again. You deserve it. God wants it for you. But how do you go > about it? > > Many people turn to prayer but prayer by itself isn’t enough. With a voice from your lower > nature saying "God's never going to hear my prayers", you might wonder why you're not > getting well. Maybe it's because you don't dare face your enemy. You've been waiting for > God to face your fear for you, but He can’t do it until you take action. Prayer must always > be followed by action: > > Prayer and meditation are very important factors in deepening the spiritual life of the > individual, but with them must go also action and example, as these are the tangible > result of the former. Both are essential. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 456) > > In order to be set free, we want to first develop a perfect hatred for all that fear stands for > in our life. > > Fear is going to show up all the time, but we can learn to recognize it and cast it away. > > Since fear is most often a spiritual disease that manifests itself physically, there may be > need for a physical treatment before the spiritual can be started. > > Here’s my story: > > I thought I was trusting God but because I really wanted to get well, I said the healing > prayer and then went to a naturopath, a homeopath, an iridologist, an astrologer and a > bodyworker. I used essential oils and Bach Flower remedies. I drank carrot juice and > greens powder. I had a colon cleanse and a parasite cleanse and took lots of supplements. > I followed a strict dietary regime eliminating all possible food intolerances. > > What was wrong with all of this, was that these alternatives became my Savior, my healer, > and I truly believed that if I didn’t do all of them, I’d be in trouble. > > All this time I had faith that God was going to heal me but because I was in fear, I kept > getting sicker and trying new things and getting sicker. > > It came to a point that I didn't want the last 40 years of my life to be a series of > increasingly difficult medical problems. I wanted to live a vibrant healthy life. I was afraid > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 42 > > (totally unconsciously) that God wasn't going to heal me so I thought that maybe I’d better > help Him out. > > And did all these healers and remedies really help me? They gave me symptomatic relief, > which is what kept me going back and led me to believe that I was working with God and > that He had guided me to the right healer, but it was only cutting down the weeds. It wasn't > killing them at their root. > > I wasn't looking to God for healing, I was looking for everything else. > > If anyone had told me I wasn't relying on God, I would've told them that they were liars. I > truly believed I was depending on God and doing things His way, and I was, to the best of > my ability with what I understood at the time. You see, we can't be truly obedient if we > don't know or don't understand. This is a progressive revelation not an instantaneous one. > God's ocean is vast and deep, we don't automatically understand that the moment we sign > our cards and become Baha'is. Gradually, through reading the Writings morning and night > and by meditating on the insights, we come to understand and apply the teachings, little by > little, day by day. So the material I learned here opens a new vista of understanding things > at a whole new level and I pray that what I'm about to share with you will have that effect > on you too. > > At one extreme, there is a range of treatments including Electric Shock Treatments: > > The Guardian, much as his heart goes out to you in your fear and suffering, Cannot > tell you whether electric shock treatments should or should not be used, as this is a > purely medical question, and there is no reference to such details in our Scriptures. > The best scientists must pass upon such methods, not laymen. (Shoghi Effendi, > Lights of Guidance, p. 281) > > For the purposes of this book, though, I will be looking primarily at spiritual treatments, > since fear is helped more by these: > > Thus an illness caused by affliction fear, nervous impressions, will be helped more > effectively by spiritual rather than by physical treatment. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections > from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p 151-152) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 43 > > Overcoming Fear by Turning to God > > Why aren’t we getting better? > > I’m often asked why people with anxiety aren’t getting better. The Baha'i Writings have > some answers. > > I want to first acknowledge that of course, Baha'is are required to seek medical treatment > and follow the doctor’s instructions when we are sick: > > It is incumbent upon everyone to seek medical treatment and to follow the doctor's > instructions, for this is in compliance with the divine ordinance, but, in reality, He Who > giveth healing is God. ('Abdu'l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of 'Abdul- Bahá, p. > 156) > > For purposes of this book though, I want to explore the untapped resource that we have in > turning to God. > > Most of us don’t consult the right source. We forget that God is the Healer and look for > healing everywhere else: > > There is but one power which heals-that is God. ('Abdul-Bahá, 'Abdul-Bahá in London, > p. 95) > > The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the > disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings > from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 212) > > Its sickness is approaching the stage of utter hopelessness, inasmuch as the true > Physician is debarred from administering the remedy, whilst unskilled practitioners are > regarded with favor, and are accorded full freedom to act. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings > from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 39) > > Unfortunately, in doing so, most of us leave our health in the hands of unskilled physicians: > > He hath fallen under the control of unskillful physicians who are hurried away by vain > desires and are of those who stray madly. (Compilations, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 112) > > And today we see him under the hands of those who are taken by the intoxification > of the wine of deceits in such manner that they do not know what is best for > themselves (Compilations, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 112) > > These physicians often have the wrong motivations, so they’re only able to heal us to a > certain extent: > > And if one of them endeavor to better his health, his intention will not be but to > profit himself thereof whether by name or effect, therefore he will not be able to heal > him save to a certain extent. (Compilations, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 112) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 44 > > Many of them become doctors because it feeds their ego, so of course they can’t discover > the cause of the disease or have any knowledge of the remedy: > > They that are intoxicated by self-conceit have interposed themselves between it and > the Divine and infallible Physician. Witness how they have entangled all men, > themselves included, in the mesh of their devices. They can neither discover the > cause of the disease, nor have they any knowledge of the remedy. (Commissioned > by The Universal House of Justice, One Common Faith) > > Some doctors see themselves as gods, so of course their patients suffer: > > In one of His Tablets (Iqtiddarat, p. 85) Bahá'u'lláh mentions that a disease has > afflicted many of those who, in their own estimation, have acquired a measure of > knowledge and learning. The disease is that such people consider themselves to be > the equal of the Manifestation of God and on the same level. He states that a great > many people suffer from this disease and consequently they have deprived > themselves of the bounties of God's Revelation. (Adib Taherzadeh, The Child of the > Covenant, p. 13) > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá tells us that medical science will much improve when we have spiritual > awakening: > > Abdu'l-Bahá does often state that the medical science will much improve. With the > appearance of every revelation a new insight is created in man and this is turn > express itself in the growth of science. This has happened in past dispensations and > we find its earliest fruits in our present day. What we see however is only the > beginning. With the spiritual awakening of man this force will develop and marvelous > results will become manifest. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 287) > > When we’ve had this awakening, we’ll realize that God is the source of all healing; no one or > nothing else. Period. > > Now that we understand why we need to turn to God to heal us of our anxiety, let’s look at > how, and what gets in the way. > > How Do We Turn to God? > > It’s important to get to know who we are through the eyes of God, and accept our place in > His family. Once we truly believe that “God is greater than any great thing”, it will set us > free. > > Fear is not greater than God. > > Fear is not greater than the Word of God. > > God is greater than Fear, and God is greater than medical doctors, which is why we need to > turn to Him. > > Greater is God than every great one! (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by > Baha'u'llah, p. 320) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 45 > > This is the standard we want to get to – that our love for God is so great, that we have no > fear of anyone. > > Such is my love for Thee that I can fear no one, though the powers of all the worlds > be arrayed against me. Alone and unaided I have, by the power of Thy might, arisen > to proclaim Thy Cause, unafraid of the host of my oppressors. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers > and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 187) > > We turn to God knowing He has the power to change weakness into strength; doubt into > certainty and more important for our study, fear into calm: > > Thou art He Who changeth through His bidding abasement into glory, and weakness > into strength, and powerlessness into might, and fear into calm, and doubt into > certainty. No God is there but Thee, the Mighty, the Beneficent. (Baha'u'llah, > Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 249) > > That’s right! God can turn fear into calm, so why do we choose to live with it, when we can > easily come back to a place of peace? > > Because our fear matters to us, overcoming it matters to God, because He loves us and > doesn’t want us to suffer, so let’s give Him our anxieties! He stands ready to take them > from us! > > It’s hard to do this if we don’t first have a relationship with God as our “loving parent”, our > “friend” or our “best lover”. I discuss more about this in the section Overcoming Fear with > Love. > > Understand the way the world works – see the end in the beginning: > > God created the world and everything in it, and as He says: > > My work is perfect and My command is binding. Question it not, nor have a doubt > thereof. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words 12) > > We get ourselves into trouble when we don’t like the world the way it is, and want to see > things differently. By turning to God, through reading the Writings, we start to understand > the world better, which makes it easier to be more at peace with what is going on around > us. > > Sometimes we’re in the middle of a test, and in a lot of fear, not wanting to move forward, > and it’s then that God sends the Watchman to push us over the wall. He’s always with us, > willing to help, even when His help feels like more calamities. Let’s take a look at a story to > illustrate. > > There was once a lover who had sighed for long years in separation from his beloved, > and wasted in the fire of remoteness. From the rule of love, his heart was empty of > patience, and his body weary of his spirit; he reckoned life without her as a mockery, > and time consumed him away. How many a day he found no rest in longing for her; > how many a night the pain of her kept him from sleep; his body was worn to a sigh, > his heart's wound had turned him to a cry of sorrow. He had given a thousand lives for > one taste of the cup of her presence, but it availed him not. The doctors knew no cure > for him, and companions avoided his company; yea, physicians have no medicine for > one sick of love, unless the favor of the beloved one deliver him. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 46 > > At last, the tree of his longing yielded the fruit of despair, and the fire of his hope fell > to ashes. Then one night he could live no more, and he went out of his house and > made for the marketplace. On a sudden, a watchman followed after him. He broke into > a run, with the watchman following; then other watchmen came together, and barred > every passage to the weary one. And the wretched one cried from his heart, and ran > here and there, and moaned to himself: "Surely this watchman is Izra'il, my angel of > death, following so fast upon me; or he is a tyrant of men, seeking to harm me." His > feet carried him on, the one bleeding with the arrow of love, and his heart lamented. > Then he came to a garden wall, and with untold pain he scaled it, for it proved very > high; and forgetting his life, he threw himself down to the garden. > > And there he beheld his beloved with a lamp in her hand, searching for a ring she had > lost. When the heart-surrendered lover looked on his ravishing love, he drew a great > breath and raised up his hands in prayer, crying: "O God! Give Thou glory to the > watchman, and riches and long life. For the watchman was Gabriel, guiding this poor > one; or he was Israfil, bringing life to this wretched one!" > > Indeed, his words were true, for he had found many a secret justice in this seeming > tyranny of the watchman, and seen how many a mercy lay hid behind the veil. Out of > wrath, the guard had led him who was athirst in love's desert to the sea of his loved > one, and lit up the dark night of absence with the light of reunion. He had driven one > who was afar, into the garden of nearness, had guided an ailing soul to the heart's > physician. > > Now if the lover could have looked ahead, he would have blessed the watchman at the > start, and prayed on his behalf, and he would have seen that tyranny as justice; but > since the end was veiled to him, he moaned and made his plaint in the beginning. Yet > those who journey in the garden land of knowledge, because they see the end in the > beginning, see peace in war and friendliness in anger. (Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys, > p. 13) > > Stress and strain are essential parts of God’s creation. It’s the reason why atoms and > molecules, crystals and everything that exists though them do not fall apart. It’s why > buildings don't collapse and why we can drive safely across a bridge. > > Certain elements have gathered and combine in chemical affinity. The tree, the man, > the fish are due to this attraction and cohesion which have brought the elements > together. A composition or composite being has resulted. The outcome of certain > atomic grouping, for instance, is a mirror, table or clock because a cohesive power has > magnetized and bound these atoms together. When that attracting power is > withdrawn, dissolution and disintegration follow; no mirror, table or clock remain -- no > trace, no existence. Therefore, commingling of the atoms brings forth a reality, while > dispersion or dissemination of them is equivalent to nonexistence. (Abdu'l-Baha, The > Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 207) > > Martha Root calls this the “power of attraction”: > > This composition of atoms which constitutes the body or mortal element of any > created being, is temporary. When the power of attraction which holds these atoms > together is withdrawn, the body as such ceases to exist. (Martha Root, Misc Baha'i, > Appreciations of the Baha'i Faith, p. 11) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 47 > > In our lives these forces of stress and strain are equally essential, but most of us regard > them as unacceptable and struggle to reject and overcome them at every turn. Our > powerlessness over whatever comes to pass is in most part what we come to think of as the > cause of our unhappiness, but this is wrong thinking. We’re told in the Writings that > everything that happens to us (affliction, sorrow, toil, anguish, sacrifice) is all, in fact, a > blessing from God. > > O ye lovers of God! Do not dwell on what is coming to pass in this holy place, and be > ye in no wise alarmed. Whatsoever may happen is for the best, because affliction is > but the essence of bounty, and sorrow and toil are mercy unalloyed, and anguish is > peace of mind, and to make a sacrifice is to receive a gift, and whatsoever may come > to pass hath issued from God's grace. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of > Abdu'l-Bahá, pp. 243-246) > > We can reduce our anxiety’s hold over us by looking at our fears as the cries of a suckling > babe weaned from his mother's milk, and have compassion for our poor selves: > > The fears and agitation which the revelation of this law provokes in men's hearts > should indeed be likened to the cries of the suckling babe weaned from his mother's > milk, if ye be of them that perceive. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of > Baha'u'llah, p. 175) > > God knows our frailty, and that we get anxious, and he asks us to give that cup of anxiety > to Him for His blessing: > > These friends are perfectly infatuated with Thy nearness; they have given their > hearts for the beauty of Thy face; are devoted to Thy Kingdom and are intoxicated > by the wine of belief. In the meeting of the covenant they are bearing in their hands > the cup of anxiety, needing Thy benevolence and yearning for the heavenly > blessings. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v3, p. 646) > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá reminds us that from the beginning of time, sorrow and anxiety, regret and > tribulation, have always been the lot of every loyal servant of God, and tells us that the > solution is to set our hearts on the tender mercies of God, so we can be filled with abiding > joy and intense gladness. > > O my well-beloved, deeply spiritual sister! Day and night thou livest in my memory. > Whenever I remember thee my heart swelleth with sadness and my regret groweth > more intense. Grieve not, for I am thy true, thy unfailing comforter. Let neither > despondency nor despair becloud the serenity of thy life or restrain thy freedom. > These days shall pass away. We will, please God, in the Abhá Kingdom and beneath > the sheltering shadow of the Blessed Beauty, forget all these our earthly cares and > will find each one of these base calumnies amply compensated by His expressions of > praise and favour. From the beginning of time sorrow and anxiety, regret and > tribulation, have always been the lot of every loyal servant of God. Ponder this in > thine heart and consider how very true it is. Wherefore, set thine heart on the tender > mercies of the Ancient Beauty and be thou filled with abiding joy and intense > gladness. (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahiyyih Khanum, p. 4) > > He knows that trying to be happy and assured while serving the Cause can cause anxiety, > and reassures us that everyone’s life has crisis and victory; agony and blessing, frustration > and progress. We’re not alone or unique in the stresses facing us. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 48 > > To be required to be happy and assured, while busily serving the Cause, can raise in > us more than a little anxiety. The Faith brings each one of us crises as well as > victories. Our own lives and even the lives of the central Figures of the Faith have > been fraught with agony as well as blessing, with failure and frustration and grief, as > frequently as with progress. This is the nature of life. (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Quickeners of > Mankind, p. 117) > > The way to peace is to give your worries to God, so we don’t have to worry about them > anymore. He knows what we need before we do. All we have to do is lay all our affairs in > His Hands and then trust Him with everything that happens to us. > > You should, therefore, leave all your affairs in His Hands, place your trust in Him, and > rely upon Him. He will assuredly not forsake you. In this, likewise, there is no doubt. > (Baha'u'llah, Fire and Light, p. 10) > > When you give Him your anxieties, you don’t have to worry about them anymore, because > He’s got them in hand. > > Many of us have trouble trusting God. It doesn’t matter how much we see His work in our > lives; we still might have trouble trusting. Perhaps we think: “Maybe He’s forgotten about > me; maybe He’s dropped the ball; maybe He’s too busy to get back to me . . .” > > We get in trouble when we think He’s not answering our prayers fast enough, so we take > them back and start worrying again. > > For example, my son grew up in the Faith but never declared, and has gone the way of > many of his peers, immersed in materialism and the pleasures of his lower nature. Every > day I pray that he will find Baha'u'llah again, and come back to the Faith. Every time I see > my son in crisis, I take back this worry. I know that if he was a deepened Baha'i he’d be > able to handle his tests and have an easier life, more filled with joy. For years my prayers > for him have, at times been intense. I’ve dedicated many fasts to this purpose, and I don’t > see any evidence that my prayers have been answered. When I catch myself in this > negative downward spiral of mistrust and anger with God, I’m glad I’ve memorized this > quote! Now whenever I start to feel anxious about this, or anything, I say: “I trust you > God. I might not like your timing or your answer, but I trust you.” Just reminding myself > of God’s love brings me back to a place of peace. > > God’s Assistance: > > Every one of us have a loving, heavenly father who knows what we need and He meets our > needs before we even need them. This is a hard concept to grasp when you haven’t had an > earthly father who models this for us. In this case we need to start with something small – > a mustard seed of faith. > > It’s hard to trust God if you don’t know him – it develops slowly the more you have a > relationship with Him – the more time you spend with Him, trusting Him with one small > thing that needs help – then you can trust Him with something bigger tomorrow. > > For example: I started with the Remover of Difficulties. When my son was very little I > wanted Him to turn to God whenever he had trouble, so I was teaching him this skill at the > same time I was teaching myself. I know we’re not supposed to change the wording of the > prayers, but I wanted to make it more real for both of us. Starting with something small in > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 49 > > this case, included looking for a lost toy. I said: “Is there any remover of missing toys > save God . . .” and then when we found it, it was proof that we could take our troubles to > God and He would answer. > > Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are > His servants, and all abide by His bidding! (The Bab, Baha'i Prayers, p. 27) > > God’s shoulders are big enough to handle everyone’s worries, because He cares for each > one of us. Sure He has a lot of other things to do, but God is infinite, so He can do it all. > > God’s Protection > > I have nothing to be afraid of, because I know that God loves me, takes care of my every > need, protects me and wants me to succeed. He created and brought me to the tests in my > life and He’ll bring me through them if I let Him. > > No matter what happens, nothing is as important as our feeling of trust in God, our > inner peacefulness and faith that all, in the end, in spite of the severity of the ordeals > we may pass through will come out as Bahá'u'lláh has promised. (Shoghi Effendi?, > Lights of Guidance, p. 237) > > In our battles against fear, we must be willing to throw ourselves on the absolute care of > God. Trust Him whether you live or die, whether you win or you lose. > > Sometimes if we peel away the layers of our fear, we’ll discover that underneath them all is > a fear that we will die. Baha'is are lucky because there are so many wonderful Writings that > talk about death, and the more we know about it, the less we’ll have to fear. Even if the > worst thing happens to us and we do get killed, we know there’s another world beyond this > one, which brings us great hope and happiness. > > All men are in God's hands, and even if they do get killed we know there is another > life beyond this that can hold great hope and happiness for the soul. (Shoghi > Effendi?, Lights of Guidance, p. 237) > > God created each of us because He loved us, so of course He cares about every detail of our > lives. He’s sent us all the things we’re worried about and He’s promised to never abandon > us as we go through our tests. > > Whatever hath befallen you, hath been for the sake of God. This is the truth, and in > this there is no doubt . . . No father will surrender his sons to devouring beasts; no > shepherd will leave his flock to ravening wolves. He will most certainly do his utmost > to protect his own. (Baha'u'llah, Fire and Light, p. 10) > > He’s promised to protect us, no matter what: > > Let the fear of no one dismay thee. Trust in the Lord, thy God, for He is sufficient > unto whosoever trusteth in Him. He, verily, shall protect thee, and in Him shalt thou > abide in safety. (Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 60) > > All we have to do is mention His name! No matter what our fears are, whether they include > self-criticism, inadequacy, inability or inexperience, we’re told to bury our fears in the > assurances of Baha'u'llah, because He’s promised to send the Concourse on High to help. > All we have to do is mention His name and He’ll set in motion all the help we’ll need. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 50 > > Let no excessive self-criticism or any feelings of inadequacy, inability or inexperience > hinder you or cause you to be afraid. Bury your fears in the assurances of > Bahá'u'lláh. Has He not asserted that upon anyone who mentions His Name will > descend the "hosts of Divine inspiration" and that on such a one will also descend > the "Concourse on high, each bearing aloft a chalice of pure light"? (The Universal > House of Justice, Ridvan 152, 1995, p. 4) > > God doesn't say something if He doesn't believe it or if it won't do us any good. > > If you feel afraid when there's nothing to be afraid of, hold on to God, cling to the cord, and > know that He wants you to get past your fear so you can be whole. > > Cling ye to the Cord of steadfastness, in such wise that all vain imaginings may utterly > vanish. (Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 75) > > Say: It behoveth every one that holdeth fast to the hem of Our Robe to be untainted > by anything from which the Concourse on high may be averse. Thus hath it been > decreed by thy Lord, the All-Glorious, in this His perspicuous Tablet. (Baha'u'llah, > Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 307) > > We’ve been assured of God’s protection. All we have to remember is the power of His name > and His love: > > Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love in > my heart all the world's afflictions can in no wise alarm me. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers > and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 208) > > Shoghi Effendi has given us an amazing visualization to use to imagine God’s protection and > if we read it every morning, it will set us up to feel safe as we go through our day: > > Putting on the armor of His love, firmly buckling on the shield of His mighty > Covenant, mounted on the steed of steadfastness, holding aloft the lance of the > Word of the Lord of Hosts, and with unquestioning reliance on His promises as the > best provision for their journey, let them set their faces towards those fields that still > remain unexplored and direct their steps to those goals that are as yet unattained, > assured that He Who has led them to achieve such triumphs, and to store up such > prizes in His Kingdom, will continue to assist them in enriching their spiritual > birthright to a degree that no finite mind can imagine or human heart perceive. > (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Baha'i World - 1950-1957, p. 101) > > The Báb has given us a prayer we can use, and it too is a great visualization: > > O Lord! Protect us from what lieth in front of us and behind us, above our heads, on > our right, on our left, below our feet and every other side to which we are exposed. > Verily, Thy protection over all things is unfailing. (The Báb, Baha'i Prayers, p. 133) > > There are other practical measures we can take as well. In a letter written by the House of > Justice to me, they told me: > > In one of His Tablets, 'Abdu'l-Bahá has responded to concerns expressed to Him by a > believer with the following: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 51 > > . . . if you seek immunity from the sway of the forces of the contingent world, hang > the Most Great Name in your dwelling, wear the ring of the Most Great Name on your > finger, place the picture of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in your home and always recite the prayers > that I have written; then you will behold the marvellous effect they produce. Those so- > called forces will prove but illusions and will be wiped out and exterminated. (The > Universal House of Justice, 1985 Dec 02, Child Abuse, Psychology and Knowledge of > Self) > > It’s certainly easy to: > >  hang the Most Great Name in your dwelling >  wear the ring of the Most Great Name on your finger >  place the picture of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in your home >  recite the prayers that 'Abdu’l-Bahá has written > > He is God > > What does it mean to really trust? To believe and have faith that God has things in control. > It's a state of being. You believe God just because He is God. I think we sometimes forget > this but God understands so He reminds us at the beginning of many prayers he where He > says: > >  He is God >  O God, my God > > I used to say the second one without thinking about it, but now I realize that what I am > saying is: “O God, MY God”. He’s mine! I can count on Him! > > God says "I am" not for what He's going to do for us or to us but for what He does for us > already. We learn to trust Him whether we’re healed or whether we're not. > > Catching and Being Grateful for God’s Bounties > > God sends us so many bounties that they’re often referred to as a flood. The key is to catch > them! We can’t catch them if our glass is pointing downward – we have to turn the glass > up. > > I’d tutored Ruhi Book 1 many times before I finally understood that my whole job in life is > to collect the bounties, without worrying how big my receptacle is and without comparing it > to others. Now I jokingly refer to myself as a “bounty hunter” and help others learn to > catch their bounties too. > > The whole duty of man in this Day is to attain that share of the flood of grace which > God poureth forth for him. Let none, therefore, consider the largeness or smallness of > the receptacle. The portion of some might lie in the palm of a man's hand, the portion > of others might fill a cup, and of others even a gallon-measure. (Baha'u'llah, > Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 8) > > One key to reducing fear is to anticipate God’s bounties, even in moments of deep anxiety. > Baha'u'llah models this for us, by giving us a prayer we can say, to acknowledge our > ordeals, and trust in His bounties: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 52 > > O my God! O my God! Thou seest me drowned in the sea of ordeals, seized upon by > the fire of infidelity, with tears flowing in the dark night rolling in the bed of > sleeplessness, mine eyes expectant to see the dawn of the lights of Faith. And when > I am anxious, as the fish whose bowels are inflamed upon the dust, I anticipate the > manifestation of Thy bounties from all sides! (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá > v2, p. 381) > > There are many prayers of gratitude which remind us of His bounties (all the things He does > for us). These are things that we often take for granted because we’re so busy focusing on > what we don’t have. They include: > >  He called us into being and infused into us His love and knowledge. (Baha'u'llah, > Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 177) > >  He strengthened us with the knowledge of Himself and caused us to enter into His > protection (Bahá'u'lláh, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 94) > >  He’s given us the cup of everlasting life. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of > Baha'u'llah, p. 31) > >  He’s torn our veils aside (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 77) > >  He’s shown us the marvels of His Revelation (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by > Baha'u'llah, p. 150) > >  He’s supplied us with every good thing. (Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations by > Bahá’u’lláh, p. 323) > >  He’s blessed us with a steady stream of bestowals. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Divine > Philosophy, p. 134-135) > >  He allowed us to live in the West where we enjoy perfect liberty, security and peace. > Is there a greater blessing than this? Freedom! Liberty! Security! These are the great > bestowals of God. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 62) > > Obviously there are many more things we could thank Him for. I encourage you to make > your own list. > > For example: I think of 5 things to be grateful for before getting out of bed in the morning, > and 5 new things I’m grateful for before going to bed at night, to remind me of His presence > and intervention in my life. The more I look, the more I see, and the more I see, the easier > it is to trust Him with my fears and my life. > > Further Assurance: > > Another thing to consider is that to be free of Fear, we must be able to receive God’s love > and feel safe in it, regardless of whether anyone else loves you or not. God loves you. You > must get to a place where you understand and believe that you are accepted by God and > loved by God no matter what you think you might have done to lose His love. Once you are > complete in God's love, there is nothing left to fear. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 53 > > He will certainly pray that you may entirely overcome your fear- complex. When you > concentrate your thoughts on realizing that you now belong to Bahá'u'lláh, are His > servant whom He loves and will always help, if you ask Him to, and that the great > spiritual strength of the Cause of God is behind you for you to draw upon, you will > soon see your fears melting away. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 237) > > Once we’ve tasted the sweetness of God’s favors, we can be assured that our path will be > cleared of all trouble and tribulations, every time we mention His name. > > Whoso hath quaffed the living waters of Thy favors can fear no trouble in Thy path, > neither can he be deterred by any tribulation from remembering Thee or from > celebrating Thy praise. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 154) > > There’s nothing we can do to cause Him to turn away from us. He’s already forgiven us, so > we don’t need to let our misdeeds stand in the way of turning to Him. > > Turn unto Him, and fear not because of thy deeds. He, in truth, forgiveth > whomsoever He desireth as a bounty on His part; no God is there but Him, the Ever- > Forgiving, the All-Bounteous. (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 86) > > God’s made a covenant or pledge with us – that He’ll never leave us alone. The more we > study and learn about the power of the Covenant, the more we’ll see how it removes all the > obstacles in our path: > > Have no fear or doubts. The power of the Covenant will assist you and invigorate you > and remove every obstacle from your path. "He, verily, will aid everyone that aideth > Him, and will remember everyone that remembereth Him" (The Universal House of > Justice, Ridvan 145, 1988, p. 3) > > The more we understand this, the less we have to fear. > > God wants us to live in the spiritual world. The more time we spend there, we’ll realize that > fear doesn’t live there. > > Ascend to the zenith of an existence which is never beclouded by the fears and > forebodings of non-existence. (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, > p. 265) > > The more we love God, the more we realize we have nothing to fear and no harm can come > to us: > > A lover feareth nothing and no harm can come nigh him: Thou seest him chill in the > fire and dry in the sea. (Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys, p. 9) > > What Gets in the Way of Turning to God? > > We don’t believe that God’s got it all under control. Baha'u'llah reminds us that He’s > breathed new life into each one of us, to regenerate us, so that we have nothing to fear: > > We have, at the bidding of the omnipotent Ordainer, breathed a new life into every > human frame, and instilled into every word a fresh potency. All created things > proclaim the evidences of this world-wide regeneration. This is the most great, the > most joyful tidings imparted by the Pen of this Wronged One to mankind. Wherefore > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 54 > > fear ye, O My well-beloved ones? Who is it that can dismay you? (Baha'u'llah, > Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 84) > > We don’t Trust’s God’s Process and His Timetable. If we believe “If God loved me He’d > remove the problem", we’ve bought into another lie, by believing, “if God loves me." That's > where we go wrong. God does love each one of us unconditionally and thinking that He > doesn't is fear talking again. When we put our trust in God, He will set things in motion to > lead us out of our captivity in the prison of self. Hasn't that already happened? He set > things in motion for you to read this blog or buy this book and He let you read this far, so > He absolutely will get you out of your captivity, as long as we trust Him and turn to Him. > > That seeker must, at all times, put his trust in God, must renounce the peoples of the > earth, must detach himself from the world of dust, and cleave unto Him Who is the > Lord of Lords. He must . . . wash away from the tablet of his heart every trace of pride > and vain-glory, must cling unto patience and resignation, observe silence and refrain > from idle talk. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 264-265) > > He that giveth up himself wholly to God, God shall, assuredly, be with him; and he > that placeth his complete trust in God, God shall, verily, protect him from whatsoever > may harm him, and shield him from the wickedness of every evil plotter. (Baha'u'llah, > The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah, p. 47) > > We think we can do things our way. The reason the Manifestations of God have come to > earth is because mankind turned away from God’s injunctions. Everything is easier when > we follow His guidance no matter in which religion it is found. Many people think they can > make their own decisions or do things their way, but without God as the uniting factor, it > won’t work. Shoghi Effendi tells us how the pendulum can swing from one extreme to > another, and then back again: > > These fashions are not permanent they are bound to change. Today the fad is a > materialistic view of life and of the world. A day will soon come when it will become > deeply religious and spiritual. In fact, we can discern the beginning of such a change > in the writings of some of the most eminent souls and liberal minds. When the > pendulum will start its full swing then we shall see all such eminent men turn again > to God. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 211) > > Today our society is largely content to go through life without God. This has to change and > it can change, by starting with us. When we bury our fears in His assurance, we teach > others to do the same. > > Conclusion: > > When our primary focus is directed towards Him, He will take care of everything else in your > life! God makes some wonderful promises in the following quote: > > I swear by God, should the traveller in the path of salvation and the seeker for the > summits of righteousness attain to this supreme and lofty state, he will inhale the > fragrance of the True One from remote distances and discern the brilliant morn of > guidance from the Day-springs of all things. Every atom and object will direct him to > the Beloved and the Desired One. He will become so discerning that he will > distinguish truth from falsehood as the sun from shadow. For example; if the breeze > of truth should blow forth from the east of creation, he will surely inhale it in the > west of emanation. Likewise, he will distinguish all the signs of the True One—such > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 55 > > as wonderful words, incomparable deeds, and brilliant actions—from the deeds, > actions and traces of all else, just as the jeweller distinguishes the gem from the > stone, and man the spring from autumn and heat from cold. > When the head of the soul is purified from the ailment (lit. cold) of the contingent > and existent, it will unfailingly discover the fragrance of the Beloved from distant > stations, arrive at the city of the assurance of His Highness the Beneficent, through > the effect of this fragrance, and behold the wonders of the wisdom of His Highness > the Most Holy, in that spiritual city. > > It will detect the hidden knowledges from the forms of the leaves of the tree of that > city, hear the glorification and praise of the Lord of Lords from its soil, with the > outward and inward ears, and perceive the mysteries of “advent” and “return” with > the outward eye. > > What shall we mention of the signs, tokens, appearances and splendors ordained in > that city, by the command of the King of Names and Attributes! It quencheth thirst > without water, and increaseth the heat of the love of God without fire. > The ideal consummate wisdom is hidden in every plant, and a thousand nightingales > of speech are in ecstasy and rapture upon every rose branch. The mystery of the fire > of Moses is revealed in its wonderful tulips, and the breath of the Holy Spirit of Jesus > emanates from its fragrances of holiness. > > It bestows wealth without gold and grants immortality without death. A paradise is > concealed in every leaf, and a hundred thousand wisdoms are treasured in every one > of its chambers. > > Those who earnestly endeavor in the way of God, after severance from all else, will > become so attached to that city that they will not abandon it for an instant. They will > hear conclusive proofs from the hyacinth of that assembly and will receive clear > arguments from the beauty of the rose and the melody of the nightingale. > This city is renewed and adorned every one thousand years, more or less. Therefore, > O my friends, we must make an efforts to attain to that city and remove the veils of > glory, through divine favors and lordly compassion, so that we may sacrifice the > withered soul in the path of the New Beloved, and show forth a hundred thousand > supplications and humiliations in order to be favored with that attainment. (Bahá’í > Scriptures, p. 51-52) > > It’s a long passage, so let’s us summarize what He’s promised if we turn to Him: > >  We will inhale His fragrance from remote distances and discern His guidance > >  Every atom and object will direct us to our Beloved > >  We will become so discerning that we will distinguish truth from falsehood > >  We will distinguish all the signs of God – His wonderful words, incomparable deeds, > and brilliant actions > >  We will arrive at the city of His assurance > >  We will detect the hidden knowledge > >  We will find the ideal hidden wisdom > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 56 > >  We will receive wealth (without gold) and immortality (without death). > >  We will see the paradise concealed in every leaf, and a hundred thousand wisdoms > treasured in every one of its chambers. > >  We will become so attached to the city of God that we will not abandon it for an > instant. > >  We will hear conclusive proofs and will receive clear arguments > > In order to be favored with that attainment we need to: > >  make an effort >  remove our veils >  show forth a hundred thousand supplications and humiliations > > To conclude this section, I’d like to share a prayer which can assist you to be the person > God wants you to be: > > I beg Thee to forgive me, O my Lord, for every mention but the mention of Thee, > and for every praise but the praise of Thee, and for every delight but delight in Thy > nearness, and for every pleasure but the pleasure of communion with Thee, and for > every joy but the joy of Thy love and of Thy good-pleasure, and for all things > pertaining unto me which bear no relationship unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Lord of > lords, He Who provideth the means and unlocketh the doors. > (The Báb, Bahá’í Prayers, p. 79) > > Say it, and study it for clues about how to orient your life, and it will surely help you! > > Abandoned by God > Those who’ve experienced extreme trauma in their lives will know how lonely and desolate > it feels when we believe with every fiber of our being that God has abandoned us. > > Bahá'u'lláh too felt abandoned by God as we see in this quote: > > O Lord my God! Thou beholdest my dwelling-place, and the prison into which I am > cast, and the woes I suffer. By Thy might! No pen can recount them, nor can any > tongue describe or number them. I know not, O my God, for what purpose Thou hast > abandoned me to Thine adversaries. Thy glory beareth me witness! I sorrow not for > the vexations I endure for love of Thee, nor feel perturbed by the calamities that > overtake me in Thy path. My grief is rather because Thou delayest to fulfill what > Thou hast determined in the Tablets of Thy Revelation, and ordained in the books of > Thy decree and judgment. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. > 10-11) > > But He never does: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 57 > > God, the Vigilant, the Just, the Loving, the All-Wise . . . will [not] be willing to > abandon His children to their fate. (Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 4- > 5) > > Have you ever heard the expression: When you point a finger at someone, there are three > fingers pointing back at you? This is what is really happening. Often it’s we who are > blaming Him because we don’t understand a particular test, or we aren’t deepened enough > in the Writings to know the purpose of tests, or we think that life should go a certain way: > > They have abandoned their God, and clung unto their desires. They truly have > strayed and are in error. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 134) > > Or we think we know what is best for us: > > The counterfeit or imitation of true religion has adulterated human belief and the > foundations have been lost sight of . . . This is verily the century when these > imitations must be forsaken, superstitions abandoned and God alone worshiped. We > must look at the reality of the prophets and their teachings in order that we may > agree. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 16) > > God wants us to trust him, and we can’t do that without faith: > > That individual, however, who puts his faith in God and believes in the words of God > -- because he is promised and certain of a plentiful reward in the next life, and > because worldly benefits as compared to the abiding joy and glory of future planes of > existence are nothing to him -- will for the sake of God abandon his own peace and > profit and will freely consecrate his heart and soul to the common good. (Abdu'l- > Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 96-97) > > God wants us to return to Him, and He tells us how: > > Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment > from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy > thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing > within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting. (Baha’u'llah, The Arabic Hidden > Words 13) > > We need to give up our will and submit to the will of God: > > Commit thyself to God; give up thy will and choose that of God; abandon thy desire > and lay hold on that of God; that thou mayest be a holy, spiritual and heavenly > example among the maid-servants of God. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v1, > p. 89-90) > > He gives us a prayer we can use to help us return to Him: > > I implore Thee, O my God, by Thy mercy that hath surpassed all created things, and > to which all that are immersed beneath the oceans of Thy names bear witness, not > to abandon me unto my self, for my heart is prone to evil. Guard me, then, within > the stronghold of Thy protection and the shelter of Thy care. I am he, O my God, > whose only wish is what Thou hast determined by the power of Thy might. All I have > chosen for myself is to be assisted by Thy gracious appointments and the ruling of > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 58 > > Thy will, and to be aided with the tokens of Thy decree and judgment. I beseech > Thee, O Thou Who art the Beloved of the hearts which long for Thee, by the > Manifestations of Thy Cause and the Day-Springs of Thine inspiration, and the > Exponents of Thy majesty, and the Treasuries of Thy knowledge, not to suffer me to > be deprived of Thy holy Habitation, Thy Fane and Thy Tabernacle. Aid me, O my > Lord, to attain His hallowed court, and to circle round His person, and to stand > humbly at His door. Thou art He Whose power is from everlasting to everlasting. > Nothing escapeth Thy knowledge. Thou art, verily, the God of power, the God of > glory and wisdom. Praised be God, the Lord of the worlds! (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and > Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 210-211) > > Drawing Closer to God > Since the entire purpose of our existence is to know and worship God, many people want to > know how they can do this, when God feels so far away or so outside their realm of > knowledge and understanding. > > First of all, we need to understand He’s not way up in the sky somewhere, but closer to us > than our life-vein! > > God hath revealed, that "We are closer to man than his life-vein" (Baha'u'llah, > Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 185) > > My love is in thee, know it, that thou mayest find Me near unto thee. (Baha'u'llah, > The Arabic Hidden Words, 10) > > My love has made in thee its home, it cannot be concealed. My light is manifest to > thee, it cannot be obscured. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 20) > > Thou art but one step away from the glorious heights above and from the celestial tree > of love. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 7) > > So if He’s so close, why does He seem so far away? Bahá'u'lláh understands this question > and has asked us to mediate on it! > > Meditate on what the poet hath written: "Wonder not, if my Best-Beloved be closer to > me than mine own self; wonder at this, that I, despite such nearness, should still be > so far from Him." (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 185) > > So if He’s so close, who moved? > > This is such an important topic, that Bahá'u'lláh tells us the only thing to feel sorry about is > that we have drawn away from Him: > > Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 35) > > And the only thing worth celebrating is our return: > > Rejoice not save that thou art drawing near and returning unto Us. (Baha'u'llah, The > Arabic Hidden Words, 35) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 59 > > What causes us to turn away? > First of all, He knows this about us: > > At all times I am near unto thee, but thou art ever far from Me. (Baha'u'llah, The > Persian Hidden Words, 21) > > The learned and the wise have for long years striven and failed to attain the presence > of the All-Glorious; they have spent their lives in search of Him, yet did not behold the > beauty of His countenance. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 22) > > It’s how He created us! > > Ye shall be hindered from loving Me and souls shall be perturbed as they make > mention of Me. For minds cannot grasp Me nor hearts contain Me. (Baha'u'llah, The > Arabic Hidden Words, 66) > > With that in mind, let’s look at the specific things that cause us to turn away. > > Envy! > > Know, verily, the heart wherein the least remnant of envy yet lingers, shall never > attain My everlasting dominion, nor inhale the sweet savors of holiness breathing from > My kingdom of sanctity. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 6) > > Wealth: > > Know ye in truth that wealth is a mighty barrier between the seeker and his desire, > the lover and his beloved. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 53) > > We stop mentioning God and keep remote from Him: > > Wherefore have ye neglected the mention of the Loved One, and kept remote from His > holy presence? (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 46) > > We don’t trust God: > > I desire communion with thee, but thou wouldst put no trust in Me. The sword of thy > rebellion hath felled the tree of thy hope. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 21) > > So we turn to other sources for enlightenment: > > Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment > from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy > thyself with another? (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 13) > > And look for God in all the wrong places: > > Why hast thou forsaken Me and sought a beloved other than Me? (Baha'u'llah, The > Arabic Hidden Words, 19) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 60 > > And content ourselves with things that aren’t as good: > > Upon the tree of effulgent glory I have hung for thee the choicest fruits, wherefore > hast thou turned away and contented thyself with that which is less good? > (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 21) > > And with things that perish: > > To the eternal I call thee, yet thou dost seek that which perisheth. (Baha'u'llah, The > Arabic Hidden Words, 23) > > We choose to shame ourselves: > > Imperishable glory I have chosen for thee, yet boundless shame thou hast chosen for > thyself. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 21) > > We get caught up in “self”: > > Thou didst remain so wrapt in the veil of self, that thine eyes beheld not the beauty of > the Beloved, nor did thy hand touch the hem of His robe. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian > Hidden Words, 22) > > We’ve given our hearts to someone or something else: > > All that is in heaven and earth I have ordained for thee, except the human heart, > which I have made the habitation of My beauty and glory; yet thou didst give My > home and dwelling to another than Me; and whenever the manifestation of My > holiness sought His own abode, a stranger found He there, and, homeless, hastened > unto the sanctuary of the Beloved. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 27) > > We busy ourselves with our own preoccupations: > > Many a day hath passed over thee whilst thou hast busied thyself with thy fancies > and idle imaginings. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 62) > > Or with other people: > > At many a dawn have I turned from the realms of the Placeless unto thine abode, > and found thee on the bed of ease busied with others than Myself. (Baha'u'llah, The > Persian Hidden Words, 28) > > And trade God’s love for a mere capful of something else: > > Alas! How strange and pitiful; for a mere cupful, they have turned away from the > billowing seas of the Most High, and remained far from the most effulgent horizon. > (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 2) > > Preferring the foul dregs of impurity to God’s celestial wine: > > Every one hath turned away from the celestial wine of unity unto the foul dregs of > impurity, and, content with mortal cup, hath put away the chalice of immortal > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 61 > > beauty. Vile is that wherewith he is contented. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden > Words, 61) > > Our hearts defiled with desire and passion: > > Why with thine heart defiled with desire and passion dost thou seek to commune > with Me and to enter My sacred realm? Far, far are ye from that which ye desire. > (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 68) > > We are neglectful of His bounties: > > When fully grown, thou didst neglect all My bounties and occupied thyself with thine > idle imaginings, in such wise that thou didst become wholly forgetful, and, turning > away from the portals of the Friend didst abide within the courts of My enemy. > (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 29) > > And content ourselves with dust: > > . . . the hearts of men, content with transient dust, have strayed far from their > eternal nest . . . (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 2) > > We busy ourselves with idle arguments, debates, and conflicts: > > The essence of beauty is within the peerless pavilion, set upon the throne of glory, > whilst ye busy yourselves with idle contentions. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden > Words, 46) > > We’re careless with the treasure we have: > > . . . with eyes turned towards the slough of heedlessness are bereft of the glory of > the divine presence. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 2) > > Our hearts are lifeless: > > Never shall mortal eye recognize the everlasting Beauty, nor the lifeless heart delight > in aught but in the withered bloom. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 10) > > And God doesn’t want us to approach Him in that state: > > Approach Me not with lifeless hearts, defiled with worldly desires and cravings. > (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 19) > > And we take pleasure in hanging out with others like us: > > For like seeketh like, and taketh pleasure in the company of its kind. (Baha'u'llah, > The Persian Hidden Words, 10) > > We spend time with those who don’t have our best interests at heart: > > Worldly friends, seeking their own good, appear to love one the other, whereas the > true Friend hath loved and doth love you for your own sakes; indeed He hath > suffered for your guidance countless afflictions. Be not disloyal to such a Friend, nay > rather hasten unto Him. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 52) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 62 > > Or who turn the radiance of our hearts into infernal fire: > > Beware! Walk not with the ungodly and seek not fellowship with him, for such > companionship turneth the radiance of the heart into infernal fire. (Baha'u'llah, The > Persian Hidden Words, 57) > > We’re occupied with idle imaginings: > > . . . occupied thyself with thine idle imaginings . . . (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden > Words, 29) > > And become forgetful of God: > > . . . thou didst become wholly forgetful . . . (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, > 29) > > Or worse, turn away from God and join forces with His enemies: > > . . . turning away from the portals of the Friend didst abide within the courts of My > enemy. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 29) > > We content ourselves with things that die and set our affections on things of this > world: > > Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die, and set not your > affections on this mortal world of dust. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 14) > > We think we know best: > > What hath made thee turn away from Our desire and seek thine own? (Baha'u'llah, > The Arabic Hidden Words, 23) > > The result? > > We won’t ever find satisfaction: > > If thou seekest another than Me, yea, if thou searchest the universe for evermore, thy > quest will be in vain. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 15) > > What happens when we turn > away? > We deprive ourselves of God’s bounties and become sorely afflicted: > > The sweet savors of holiness are breathing and the breath of bounty is wafted, yet ye > are all sorely afflicted and deprived thereof. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, > 46) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 63 > > We stray and perish: > > My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe and secure, and he that > turneth away shall surely stray and perish. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 9) > > There seems to be some urgency to get back to God: > > While there is yet time, return, and lose not thy chance. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian > Hidden Words 21) > > The time cometh, when the nightingale of holiness will no longer unfold the inner > mysteries and ye will all be bereft of the celestial melody and of the voice from on > high. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 15) > > Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden > Words, 40) > > How do we turn back? > Draw near and enter: > > God has promised that His gates are open wide, but very draw near and even fewer are able > to enter: > > The gates that open on the Placeless stand wide and the habitation of the loved one is > adorned with the lovers' blood, yet all but a few remain bereft of this celestial city, and > even of these few, none but the smallest handful hath been found with a pure heart > and sanctified spirit. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 17) > > So how can we get back to a place of connection to God and ensure we are one of those > who enter His court? > > Stop looking elsewhere: > > Wouldst thou have Me, seek none other than Me . . . for My will and the will of another > than Me, even as fire and water, cannot dwell together in one heart. (Baha'u'llah, The > Persian Hidden Words, 31) > > Put God first: > > God wants us to love him better than we love anyone or anything else: > > I desire to be loved alone and above all that is. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, > 8) > > Make a list of all the things you “love” and see which ones get in the way of your > relationship with God. Many of us assume we need to love our spouses or children or pets > more than anything else, but God wants to be first in our lives. If He isn’t, ask yourself > what you can do to make sure He comes first. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 64 > > An easy way is to make sure you’re honoring your spiritual obligations is to use this > checklist to review where you stand: > > Bahá'u'lláh has stated quite clearly in His Writings the essential requisites for our > spiritual growth, and these are stressed again and again by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His talks > and Tablets. One can summarize them briefly in this way: > > The recital each day of one of the Obligatory Prayers with pure-hearted devotion. > The regular reading of the Sacred Scriptures, specifically at least each morning > and evening, with reverence, attention and thought. > Prayerful meditation on the teachings, so that we may understand them more > deeply, fulfil them more faithfully, and convey them more accurately to others. > Striving every day to bring our behaviour more into accordance with the high > standards that are set forth in the Teachings. > Teaching the Cause of God. > Selfless service in the work of the Cause and in the carrying on of our trade or > profession. (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 540) > > Other daily practices include saying the 95 Allau’u’Abha’s: > We have also decided that it is timely for Bahá'ís in every land to take to their hearts > the words of the Kitab-i-Aqdas: "It hath been ordained that every believer in God, the > Lord of Judgment, shall, each day, having washed his hands and then his face, seat > himself and, turning unto God, repeat `Allah-u-Abha' ninety-five times. Such was the > decree of the Maker of the Heavens when, with majesty and power, He established > Himself upon the thrones of His Names." Let all experience the spiritual enrichment > brought to their souls by this simple act of worshipful meditation. (Universal House of > Justice, Laws of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Further Application of, 28 Dec, 1999) > > Of course, we can and should say them at other times of the day as well: > > 'Abdul-Bahá encourages the use of the sacred phrase Alláh-u-Bahá as a focus for > invocation. “The Greatest Name should be found upon the lips in the first awakening > moment of early dawn. It should be fed upon by consistent use in daily invocation, in > trouble, under opposition, and should be the last word breathed when the head rests > upon the pillow at night. It is the name of comfort, protection, happiness, > illumination, love and unity. ('Abdul-Bahá, Wisdom of the Master, p. 58) > > The purpose of saying this prayer is to help us advance towards God: > Question - What is the reason that every one should mention every morning, ninety > five times, the Greatest Name; i.e., Allah'u'Abha! "It is only for mentioning the name > of God, for to commemorate His Holy Name causes us to advance toward Him and to > be more vigilant." (Unauthenticated Tablet or talk attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Barstow > collection) http://www.bahai-library.com/zamir/barstow2.html#151 > > The Hidden Words also give us lots of practical advice on how to draw closer to God: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 65 > > Turn away from ourselves: > > If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself . . . (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, > 7) > > Turn towards God, renouncing everything except Him: > > Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all save Me. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden > Words, 15) > > In one prayer we can ask to detach ourselves from others so we can draw closer: > > I have detached myself from my kindred and have sought through Thee to become > independent of all that dwell on earth and ever ready to receive that which is > praiseworthy in Thy sight. (The Bab, Baha'i Prayers, p. 21) > > And in another, He tells us it is our reality: > > O Lord! I am single, alone and lowly. For me there is no support save Thee, no helper > except Thee and no sustainer beside Thee. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i Prayers, p. 187) > > Stop focusing on our own pleasure and focus only on what God wants for us: > > If thou seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own . . . (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic > Hidden Words, 7) > > Glory in God’s name and not in our own: > > It behooveth thee to glory in My name, not in thine own . . . (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic > Hidden Words, 8) > > Trust in God and not in ourselves: > > It behooveth thee to . . . put thy trust in Me and not in thyself . . . (Baha'u'llah, The > Arabic Hidden Words, 8) > > Turn our sight unto ourselves to find God standing within: > > Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, > powerful and self-subsisting. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 13) > > Commune with God’s spirit: > > Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of the essence of My > command, therefore turn unto it. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 16) > > Obedience: > > Walk in My statutes for love of Me and deny thyself that which thou desirest if thou > seekest My pleasure. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 38) > Neglect not My commandments if thou lovest My beauty. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic > Hidden Words, 39) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 66 > > This is such an important one, that Bahá'u'lláh tells us that nothing else will do: > > Wert thou to speed through the immensity of space and traverse the expanse of > heaven, yet thou wouldst find no rest save in submission to Our command and > humbleness before Our Face. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 40) > > Cleanse your body of all things: > > The temple of being is My throne; cleanse it of all things, that there I may be > established and there I may abide. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 58) > > Cleanse your heart of all things: > > Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation; > cleanse it for My manifestation. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 59) > > Wake up! > > How long art thou to slumber on thy bed? Lift up thy head from slumber, for the Sun > hath risen to the zenith, haply it may shine upon thee with the light of beauty. > (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 62) > > Free yourself of all idle fancies: > > Wherefore, free thyself from the veils of idle fancies and enter into My court. > (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 63) > > Stop looking elsewhere: > > Abide not but in the rose-garden of the spirit . . . Seek thou no shelter except in the > Sheba of the well-beloved . . . dwell not save on the mount of faithfulness. Therein is > thy habitation, if on the wings of thy soul thou soarest to the realm of the infinite and > seekest to attain thy goal. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 1) > > Take one step towards Him: > > Take thou one pace and with the next advance into the immortal realm and enter the > pavilion of eternity. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 7) > > Look and listen to the Voice of God: > > Blind thine eyes, that is, to all save My beauty; stop thine ears to all save My word > (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 11) > > Empty yourself of all acquired knowledge: > > Empty thyself of all learning, that thou mayest partake of My knowledge. (Baha'u'llah, > The Persian Hidden Words, 11) > > Sanctify yourself from all riches: > > Sanctify thyself from riches, that thou mayest obtain a lasting share from the ocean of > My eternal wealth. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 11) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 67 > > Attain a clear vision, pure heart and attentive ear: > > With a clear vision, a pure heart and an attentive ear thou mayest enter the court of > My holiness. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 11) > > Empty your hearts of all save God: > > Ponder awhile. Hast thou ever heard that friend and foe should abide in one heart? > Cast out then the stranger, that the Friend may enter His home. (Baha'u'llah, The > Persian Hidden Words, 26) > > Escape from the cage you’ve put yourself in: > > Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the phoenix of love soar into the firmament of > holiness. Renounce thyself and, filled with the spirit of mercy, abide in the realm of > celestial sanctity. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 38) > Up from thy prison ascend unto the glorious meads above, and from thy mortal cage > wing thy flight unto the paradise of the Placeless. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden > Words, 39) > > Let go of malice and envy: > > Purge thy heart from malice and, innocent of envy, enter the divine court of holiness. > (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 42) > > Spend time with God’s loved ones and the righteous: > > He that seeketh to commune with God, let him betake himself to the companionship of > His loved ones; and he that desireth to hearken unto the word of God, let him give ear > to the words of His chosen ones. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 56) > > Wouldst thou seek the grace of the Holy Spirit, enter into fellowship with the > righteous. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 58) > > How do we do any of these > things? > Through prayer and meditation, and then being still enough to listen for the Voice > of God: > > I have the greatest desire to speak with you, but if I do not talk with my tongue I > commune with my heart and my soul is with you. Without the medium of words it > speaks to you of mysteries. Those who understand can converse with me thus. > (Abdu'l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 119-120) > > How do we know this works? Because He promises: > > Ready is He to answer whosoever calleth upon Him, and nigh is He unto such as > commune with Him. (Baha'u'llah, The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah, p. 60) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 68 > > Bahá'u'lláh tells us we can return to Him “swift as a twinkling of an eye”: > > Swift as the twinkling of an eye ye can, if ye but wish it, reach and partake of this > imperishable favor, this God-given grace, this incorruptible gift, this most potent and > unspeakably glorious bounty. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, > p. 326) > > For a true lover, reunion is inevitable: > > Whither can a lover go but to the land of his beloved? and what seeker findeth rest > away from his heart's desire? To the true lover reunion is life, and separation is death. > His breast is void of patience and his heart hath no peace. A myriad lives he would > forsake to hasten to the abode of his beloved. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden > Words, 4) > > Reasons to return to God: > Aside from the fact that it’s our purpose in life, why else do we want to love God? > > So He can call us by name: > > I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may > name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden > Words, 4) > > So that His love can reach us: > > Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach > thee. Know this, O servant. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 5) > > So that we can return “home” and live in Paradise: > > Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home, reunion with Me. Enter therein and tarry > not. This is that which hath been destined for thee in Our kingdom above and Our > exalted dominion. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 6) > > To ensure that God will eternally live in us: > > . . . that thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee. (Baha'u'llah, The > Arabic Hidden Words, 7) > > So that we can find God when we get to the next world: > > Abide then in thy love for Me, that thou mayest find Me in the realm of glory. > (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 14) > > It’s the only way to find peace within ourselves: > > There is no peace for thee save by renouncing thyself and turning unto Me . . . > (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 8) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 69 > > To keep us safe and secure: > > My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe and secure, and he that > turneth away shall surely stray and perish. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 9) > > In order to be fit for everlasting life: > > . . . that thou mayest be fit for everlasting life . . . (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden > Words, 63) > > In order to be worthy to meet God: > > . . . that thou mayest be . . . worthy to meet Me. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden > Words, 63) > > To avoid separation, weariness and trouble: > > Thus may death not come upon thee, neither weariness nor trouble. (Baha'u'llah, > The Arabic Hidden Words, 63) > > What does He mean “that death may not come upon thee”? In another Hidden Word > He tells us: > To the true lover . . . separation is death. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden > Words, 4) > > Conclusion: > > In conclusion, Bahá'u'lláh has the last word: > > I bear witness, O friends! that the favor is complete, the argument fulfilled, the proof > manifest and the evidence established. Let it now be seen what your endeavors in > the path of detachment will reveal. In this wise hath the divine favor been fully > vouchsafed unto you and unto them that are in heaven and on earth. All praise to > God, the Lord of all Worlds. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, 82) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 70 > > Overcoming Fear with Prayer > The goal of prayer is to get to a place of peace; not to get the specific thing we’re asking > for. Pray until the worry is gone. Some things you have to pray for days and weeks and > months until you get to a place of peace. > > If you don't have a relationship with God, prayer is just empty words. For example, when I > became a Baha'i, I thought I couldn't talk to God except through the Baha'i prayers. I read > in Ruhi book 1 that prayer was a conversation but I didn't feel like I was having a > conversation when I was saying my prayers. They were just words going one way: from > me to God. I went through the motions of saying the prayers but I wasn’t connecting with > them. Then I realized I was approaching Him with a lifeless heart, which He didn’t want me > to do. > > O friends! . . . approach Me not with lifeless hearts, defiled with worldly desires and > cravings. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words 19) > > In order to have a conversation, we need to first have a relationship, otherwise it wouldn't > mean anything. If I have a relationship with you, all of a sudden my words mean > something. It's relationships that are important. > > When I think about God as my Father and my Friend and my Best Lover, it opens the door > to a much richer kind of conversation. Then the Creative Word of God can recreate me. > > The greatest miracle of the Manifestation of God is that He changes the hearts of > people and creates a new civilization merely through the influence of His word. Every > word that He utters is creative and endowed with such potency that all the powers of > the world will not be able to resist the world-vivifying forces that are released through > it. Like the animating energies of the spring season which are let loose in abundance > and penetrate to the core of all living things, the creative Word of the Manifestation of > God revolutionizes human society and by its resistless force breaks down man-made > barriers of opposition, creating a new race of men and a new civilization. (Adib > Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 3, p. 44) > > Bahá'ís are generally encouraged to use the Creative Word, including those prayers > and Tablets revealed by Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb and 'Abdu'l-Bahá which are authenticated > and published in our Bahá'í literature. A letter dated 8 August 1942, written on behalf > of Shoghi Effendi to a National Spiritual Assembly, indicates that while spontaneous > prayer is permitted, the revealed verses are preferred because "the revealed Word is > endowed with a power of its own". The friends, therefore, must use them in their own > supplications with radiant joy. This does not mean, however, that in addition to such > prayers, they may not, in private, use their own words whenever they feel the > inclination to do so. (The Universal House of Justice, 2001 Sep 19, Definition and > Scope of 'Devotional Meetings') > > As I continue to read the Writings, I'm learning to find the prayers that match exactly what > I want to say. Most of the ones that resonate the most are not typically found in > commercially available prayer books, so I’ve created a database of my favorites which you > can find at www.thebahaiprayers.com . > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 71 > > Prayers for Protection: > > The thing about fear is that we don’t feel safe, so one of the easiest things we can do is to > ask God to keep us safe, through prayers such as these: > > O Lord! Protect us from what lieth in front of us and behind us, above our heads, on > our right, on our left, below our feet and every other side to which we are exposed. > Verily, Thy protection over all things is unfailing. (The Bab, Baha'i Prayers, p. 133) > > I have risen this morning by Thy grace, O my God, and left my home trusting wholly > in Thee, and committing myself to Thy care. Send down, then, upon me, out of the > heaven of Thy mercy, a blessing from Thy side, and enable me to return home in > safety even as Thou didst enable me to set out under Thy protection with my thoughts > fixed steadfastly upon Thee. There is none other God but Thee, the One, the > Incomparable, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by > Baha'u'llah, p. 266) > > The Prayer of the Signs is a special form of Muslim obligatory prayer that was ordained to > be said in times of natural events, like earthquakes, eclipses, and other such phenomena, > which may cause fear and are taken to be signs or acts of God. The requirement of > performing this prayer has been annulled. In its place a Bahá'í may say the following > prayer, but this is not obligatory: > > Dominion is God's, the Lord of the seen and the unseen, the Lord of creation. > (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 172) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 72 > > Overcoming Fear by Reading the > Writings: > We’ve been told in no uncertain terms to read the Writings morning and night and warned > of the consequences if we don’t: > > Read the Verses of God every morning and evening, and he who does not read will not > be known by the Covenant of God and His Testament. And he who turns away from > them in this Day, verily he is of those who have turned away from God since the > eternity of eternities. (Baha'u'llah, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 156) > > We need to read with care and attention, even if all we can manage is one passage: > > Be not deluded by meaningless repetition of prayers, but worship by day and by night. > Should any one read but one Verse of the Verses with fragrance and spirituality, it > shall avail more unto him than to read with slothfulness all the Books of God, the > Protector, the Self-existent. (Baha'u'llah, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 156) > > In order to meditate on the Word of God, we first have to immerse ourselves in its Ocean to > find the pearls that He’s hidden for us. In this way we become pearl divers!: > > O peoples of the world! Cast away, in My name that transcendeth all other names, the > things ye possess, and immerse yourselves in this Ocean in whose depths lay hidden > the pearls of wisdom and of utterance, an ocean that surgeth in My name, the All- > Merciful. Thus instructeth you He with Whom is the Mother Book. (Baha'u'llah, > Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 33-34) > > We need to do it for lots of reasons, but in particular, we’ve been promised that if we do, it > will cure us of our hypertension: > > Cannot modern men and women be cured of hypertension and begin through the > Word once again to find the lost certainty? Through faith will come serenity and > maturity. (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. ix) > > The reason for this is because our minds must be renewed so that we can let go of old > beliefs that feed our fear. > > We gain knowledge of God from the Word of God. When we believe God's word and declare > it, when we trust God and believe Him, He will protect and care for us and help us through > all of all our troubles. > > The Word of God is our guide. No other father is our guide or our healer. We can search > everywhere for a cure and we won’t find it, because Baha'u'llah promises: > > Wert thou to speed through the immensity of space and traverse the expanse of > heaven, yet thou wouldst find no rest save in submission to Our command and > humbleness before Our Face. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words 40) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 73 > > The word of God gets the job done because the Writings are the Divine Remedy. Like any > prescription given to you by a doctor, you have to take it in order to see results, and even > then you have to give it time to work. Remember what the doctor says when he gives you > an antibiotic? You have to take it for the whole 10 days even when you feel totally cured by > day six or it will come back. The Divine Remedy is the same. It's not the remedy by itself > that gets the job done but your obedience to the instructions. We need to continually > choose to follow the Word of God, no matter what things might look like. You make a > decision to believe God and not to yield to fear. That's why you need to take a step into > action every single day. Fear will come back, but it will come as a temptation and you can > treat it like any other temptation. You don't have to act on it. > > Reading the Writings causes fear to vanish: > > But great was my surprise to know how the ever-present Hand of the Master has > removed so speedily all the difficulties in our way and how the light of His Divine > Guidance caused the darkness of doubts, of fears and mistrust to vanish. (Shoghi > Effendi, Baha'i Administration, p. 27) > > Look to the Writings to find the knowledge that eliminates fear: > > In the treasuries of the knowledge of God there lieth concealed a knowledge which, > when applied, will largely, though not wholly, eliminate fear. This knowledge, > however, should be taught from childhood, as it will greatly aid in its elimination. > (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 32) > > Discover the motivating purpose of God’s Revelation: > > Were men to discover the motivating purpose of God's Revelation, they would > assuredly cast away their fears, and, with hearts filled with gratitude, rejoice with > exceeding gladness. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 175) > > Read the Writings to prevent trouble and tribulation > > Whoso hath quaffed the living waters of Thy favors can fear no trouble in Thy path, > neither can he be deterred by any tribulation from remembering Thee or from > celebrating Thy praise. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 154) > > Deepen your knowledge and dedicate yourself to the Cause: > > Let him resolve so to deepen his knowledge of the Faith and so to increase his > standards of self-sacrifice and dedication to the Cause as to play his part in building > a Community which will be worthy of this supreme bounty and which will be a > beacon light to the peoples of this fear-wracked world. (The Universal House of > Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 37) > > Meditation: > > It’s not enough to read the Writings, and immerse ourselves in the Writings, but we’re told > we have to meditate on them as well. > > It is incumbent upon you to ponder in your hearts and meditate upon His words. > (Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 241) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 74 > > In many places we’re told to “ponder” on something: > > Ponder this in thine heart, that the truth may be revealed unto thee, and be thou > steadfast in His path. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 76) > > Paying attention to what God asks us to ponder on will fill up our minds with the right kind > of thoughts and leave no room for us to meditate on our fears by letting that hamster wheel > to go round and round in your head. When we meditate on the wrong things, we’re exalting > fear and giving it power and wasting time better spent on teaching and service. When we do > that it changes chemicals in our body. So meditate on God's word instead. > > When we have our minds renewed by immersing it in the Ocean of God’s Word, we can > prove that what God has to tell us is the opposite of what fear has been telling us. > > We go to the Word of God to find the truth that is there and the truth is what's going to set > us free and make us whole. It's not mind over matter but faith over fear. It's the word of > God over the word of our idle fancies. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 75 > > Overcome Fear by Focusing on the > Virtues > One of the purposes of our lives is to acquire the virtues we will need in the next world: > > The purpose of the creation of man is the attainment of the supreme virtues of > humanity through descent of the heavenly bestowals. (Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation > of Universal Peace, p. 4) > > Bahá'ís believe that human beings are inherently noble, and that the purpose of life is > to cultivate such attributes, skills, virtues and qualities as will enable them to > contribute their share to the building of an ever-advancing civilization. True education > releases capacities, develops analytical abilities, confidence, will, and goal-setting > competencies, and instills the vision that will enable them to become self-motivating > change agents, serving the best interests of the community. (Baha'i International > Community, 1990 Mar 08, Teacher's Situation Determining Factor of Quality) > > Although it might not make sense now, someday you will need these virtues and thank God > you had a chance to develop them so you aren’t handicapped in the next world! > > As the child in the womb does not yet know the use of its members, it does not know > what its eyes are for, neither its nose, nor ears, nor tongue -- so also it is with the > soul on earth. It cannot understand here the uses and powers of its spiritual gifts, > but directly it enters the eternal kingdom, it will become clearly apparent. ('Abdul- > Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers 9, p. 48) > > So it would make sense that we’d want to replace fear with something else that will benefit > us more. These virtues can be found for every social problem, including overcoming > anxiety. > > There are spiritual principles, or what some call human values, by which solutions can > be found for every social problem. Any well-intentioned group can, in a general sense, > devise practical solutions to its problems, but good intentions and practical knowledge > are usually not enough. The essential merit of spiritual principle is that it not only > presents a perspective which harmonizes with the inherent nobility in human nature, it > also induces an attitude, a dynamic, a will, an aspiration, which facilitate the discovery > and implementation of practical measures. (Baha'i International Community, 1992 > Mar 05, Earth Charter Rio De Janeiro Declaration Oneness of) > > Focus on the virtues you’re developing (or the ones that will help you through). Tenacity, > courage, faith and noble exertions are some that help alleviate anxiety and stress: > > I wish to reaffirm my deep sense of gratitude and admiration for the splendid > manner in which the English believers are discharging their duties and > responsibilities in these days of increasing peril, anxiety and stress. Their tenacity, > courage, faith and noble exertions will as a magnet attract the undoubted and > promised blessing of Bahá'u'lláh. (Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the > British Baha'i Community, p. 137) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 76 > > Often when I’m feeling afraid, I will ask God to take the fear off my shoulders, and > transmute it into peacefulness or courage or assertiveness or faith and trust – depending on > the situation. That way I’m letting go of the stress, and using it for my growth and > development. > > Consultation: > > One of the practices in Ruhi Book One is to study a prayer with someone. Consulting on the > meanings together will develop our capacity to meditate and ponder more deeply on the > meanings in the prayers. > > Consultation allows an open examination of fears and misconceptions, the gathering > and presentation of facts, the identification of relevant spiritual principles, and a > collective exploration of ways to implement those principles so that unity is preserved > and enhanced. (Baha'i International Community, 1991 Nov 16, Report Rural Poverty > Alleviation Efforts) > > Courage: > > I find it interesting that courage doesn’t merit a chapter on its own, since conventional > wisdom would suggest that courage is what is needed to overcome fear. Given that there > are so many other clues in the Writings about what to do, courage only gets a passing nod > here! > > Whatever decreaseth fear increaseth courage. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the > Wolf, p. 32) > > The most surprising quote on courage for me is this one: > > The source of courage and power is the promotion of the Word of God, and > steadfastness in His Love. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 155) > > This suggests to me that if we want to find courage, we need to learn to teach the Faith and > find courage there. > > Detachment > > Let go of worry and let God take care of it. > > Tear asunder, O my God, the veil of vain imaginings that hath obscured the vision of > Thy people, that all may haste towards Thee, may tread the path of Thy pleasure, and > walk in the ways of Thy Faith. We are, O my God, Thy servants and Thy bondsmen. > Thou art sufficient unto us so that we can dispense with the world and all that is > therein. We are wholly satisfied with all that hath befallen us in Thy path. > (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 101) > > Try to imagine holding up a glass with some water in it. At first it seems simple enough, > but the longer you hold it, the heavier it feels. If you hold it all day, you’re likely to have > your arm go numb and be unable to feel it anymore. Life’s anxieties are exactly like that. > At first they nibble away at you but it seems manageable. The more you think about them, > they begin to interfere with your life, and the more entrenched they become, the harder it > will be to stop the hamster wheel and let go of the worry. That’s why it’s so important to > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 77 > > give the stressors to God every day before going to sleep, so you can sleep well and wake > up every day refreshed and ready to take on any challenge that comes your way. > > How do you do that? Some people have a real or symbolic “worry tree” where they hang > their problems before entering their house each day. > > When I have a problem that has to be solved, I say the prayer for solving problems. This > prayer was revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in Arabic for Jinab-i-Samandar (Shaykh Kazim > Samandar), the father of the Hand of the Cause of God Tarazu’llah Samandari, to assist him > in making a difficult decision. In regard to his affairs, let him repeat nineteen times: > > O my God! Thou seest me detached from everything save Thee, clinging to Thee, to > guide me in my doings in that which benefits me for the Glory of Thy Cause and the > Loftiness of the state of Thy servants. > > Let him then reflect upon the matter and undertake whatever cometh to mind. This > vehement opposition … will indeed give way to supreme prosperity. > > I also like to use the 5 Steps of Prayer for Solving Problems: > > The below five steps were suggested by the beloved Guardian Shoghi Effendi > to a believer as a means of finding a solution through the use of prayer. > This statement belongs to the category of statements known as “pilgrims > notes”, and as such has no authority, but since it seems to be particularly > helpful and clear it was felt that believers should not be deprived of it. > > 1st Step: Pray and meditate about it. Use the prayers of the Manifestations > as they have the greatest power. Then remain in the silence of contemplation > for a few minutes. > > 2nd Step: Arrive at a decision and hold this. This decision is usually born > during the contemplation. It may seem almost impossible of accomplishment > but if it seems to be as answer to a prayer or a way of solving the problem, > then immediately take the next step. > > 3rd Step: Have determination to carry the decision through. Many fail here. > The decision, budding into determination, is blighted and instead becomes a wish or > a vague longing. When determination is born, immediately take the next step. > > 4th Step: Have faith and confidence that the power will flow through you, > the right way will appear, the door will open, the right thought, the right > message, the right principle, or the right book will be given to you. Have > confidence and the right thing will come to your need. Then, as you rise > from prayer, take at once the 5th step. > > 5th Step: Act as though it had all been answered. Then act with tireless, > ceaseless energy. And as you act, you, yourself, will become a magnet, which > will attract more power to your being, until you become an unobstructed > channel for the Divine power to flow through you. > > Many pray but do not remain for the last half of the first step. Some who > meditate arrive at a decision, but fail to hold it. Few have the determination to carry > the decision through, still fewer have the confidence that the right thing will come to > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 78 > > their need. But how many remember to act as though it had all been answered? > How true are these words “Greater than the prayer is the spirit in which it is uttered” > and greater than the way it is uttered is the spirit in which it is carried out. (Shoghi > Effendi, Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 91) > > Also, if I have a problem that still troubles me, I: > >  Ask God to transmute it into peacefulness and acceptance > >  Pray for detachment and God’s will > >  Forgive the person > > Gratitude > > If you aren’t grateful for the things God has blessed you with in the past, why would He > want to send you any more? We need to thank God for everything, including our tests and > troubles: > > As to the calamities and afflictions of Abdul-Bahá: These are not calamities, but > bounties; they are not afflictions, but gifts; not hardships, but tranquillity; not trouble, > but mercy -- and we thank God for this great favor. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l- > Bahá v1, p. 128) > > In short, thou shouldst thank God a hundred-thousand times for having been > confirmed and strengthened in obtaining such a great gift [servitude]! Know thou the > value thereof and consider that its price is highly appraised. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of > Abdu'l-Bahá v3, p. 510) > > Happiness and Joy > > Happiness and joy don’t come to us by choice. They require a decision: > > I WILL be a happy and joyful being. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i Prayers, p. 150) > > Try saying that out loud, right now, placing emphasis on the word “will” and see if it doesn’t > make you smile! > > There’s no point in waiting for some other time in the future to be happy when we can > change our thinking to let happiness in today: > > If we are not happy and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and > for what other time shall we look? (Abdu'l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith, p. 351) > > The Bahá’í Writings seem to suggest that happiness and inner tranquility ultimately hinge on > our ability to see purpose and meaning in every moment, even in the midst of agonizing > suffering. Again action is needed. We need to choose to rise above our suffering in order to > find happiness. > > Seek ye divine happiness through the hardships and sorrows of this physical world, > and behold spiritual well-being in the struggles of this fleeting existence. Distill sugar > and honey from the bitter poison of suffering. Recognize the caress of divine favor in > the arrows of misfortune. Consider the lowest degree of humiliation in the path of the > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 79 > > Blessed Perfection as the highest station of Glory. Know descent to be identical with > ascent, and consider death itself the essence of life. (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Baha'i Scriptures, > p. 439) > > In the Valley of Wonderment, Bahá’u'lláh wrote of those that have rid themselves of earthly > attachments: > > At every moment he beholdeth a wondrous world, a new creation, and goeth from > astonishment to astonishment, and is lost in awe at the works of the Lord of > Oneness. (Baha'u'llah, Seven Valleys, p. 32) > > Wouldn’t you love to get to a place where every day you could say: > > O Lord, increase my astonishment at Thee! (Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys, p. 33) > > Mindfulness and Living in the Moment: > > Many of those who’ve experienced extreme trauma, are stuck in the past. We can’t get > past the terror, horror, betrayal, rejection, bitterness and many other veils that distance us > from God. > > But God can’t do anything to help as long as we’re living in the past. > > He urges you to grasp firmly the teachings of our Faith, the love of your family and > many Bahá'í friends, to put the past behind entirely, realizing that it can do you no > more harm; on the contrary, through changing you and making you spiritually > aware, this very past can be a means of enriching your life in the future! (Shoghi > Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, pp. 449-450) > > He wants us to come into the present: > > Pleasant is the realm of being, wert thou to attain thereto . . . Shouldst thou attain > this station, thou wouldst be freed from destruction and death, from toil and sin. > (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words 70) > > And focus on the future. His teachings are all directing us to a future which encompasses > the Most Great Peace (which will benefit us as well as society at large): > > Do not allow your minds to dwell on the present, but with eyes of faith look into the > future, for in truth the Spirit of God is working in your midst. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris > Talks, p. 169) > > Each day has enough trouble on its own, so you don’t need to borrow trouble from > tomorrow. When you think that God’s not able to look after you, have a look at what He did > for you yesterday and remind yourself that He's with you today and will help you tomorrow > too, since they’re all the same. > > The past, the present, the future, all, in relation to God, are equal. Yesterday, today, > tomorrow do not exist in the sun. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 116) > > Once his effort is directed in the proper channel, if he does not succeed today, he will > succeed tomorrow. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. 8, No. 1, p. 21) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 80 > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá shows us how easy it is to live in the moment, in the spiritual world: > > Let us turn our hearts away from the world of matter and live in the spiritual world! It > alone can give us freedom! If we are hemmed in by difficulties we have only to call > upon God, and by His great Mercy we shall be helped. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. > 110) > > Let us live in the spiritual realm . . . who wouldn’t want that? No bills, unconditional love, > rest, relaxation . . . > > Is it possible to have those things in this world? It must be, or 'Abdul-Bahá wouldn’t be > suggesting we do it. I think this quote is talking about living in the present moment. For > most of us, this present moment, right now, as I’m writing this and you’re reading it, we are > safe. We are free from abuse and bills, and in this moment, if we take the time to turn to > the spiritual world, we can feel the love that’s there for us, and get the rest and relaxation > we need. We can all go there, right now, because right now, in this very minute, everything > is totally OK. And all we have is this minute we’re living in. > > Perhaps our lives in the past were not what we wanted them to be; and we know that our > life in the future will be rife with tests, but just now, in this moment, if we turn to the > spiritual realm, everything is fine. > > Peacefulness: > > God wants us to be at peace. It’s the reason Bahá'u'lláh suffered so much: > > His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh endured ordeals and hardships sixty years . . . He willingly > endured these difficulties . . . [that] peace and tranquility be realized by all. (Abdu'l- > Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 230) > > He teaches us that we need to know and understand the divine teachings in order to find > peace and tranquility. It goes back to immersing ourselves in the Writings! > > Praise be to Him, ye are acquainted with the various laws, institutions and principles > of the world; today nothing short of these divine teachings can assure peace and > tranquility to mankind. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. > 249) > > God knows what has happened to us, and has given us prayers we can say: > > Thou knowest all that is in me, O Lord, but I know not what is in Thee. Have mercy > then upon me through Thy loving providence and inspire me with that which shall > give peace to my heart during Thy days and tranquillity to my soul through the > revelations of Thy sacred presence. (Compilations, The Importance of Obligatory > Prayer and Fasting) > > All laud and honor to Thee, O my God! Thou well knowest the things which, for a > score of years, have happened in Thy days, and have continued to happen until this > hour. No man can reckon, nor can any tongue tell, what hath befallen Thy chosen > ones during all this time. They could obtain no shelter, nor find any refuge in which > they could abide in safety. Turn, then, O my God, their fear into the evidences of Thy > peace and Thy security, and their abasement into the sovereignty of Thy glory, and > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 81 > > their poverty into Thine all-sufficient riches, and their distress into the wonders of > Thy perfect tranquillity. Vouchsafe unto them the fragrances of Thy might and Thy > mercy, and send down upon them, out of Thy marvelous loving-kindness, what will > enable them to dispense with all except Thee, and will detach them from aught save > Thyself, that the sovereignty of Thy oneness may be revealed and the supremacy of > Thy grace and Thy bounty demonstrated. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by > Baha'u'llah, p. 335) > > Trust and detachment: > > Baha'u'llah speaks directly to those of us with a fearful heart: > > Say to them that are of a fearful heart: be strong, fear not, behold your God . . . > Well is it with him who hath been illumined with the light of trust and detachment. > (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 146) > > Spiritual Radiance > > Spiritual radiance lights our path so we can get rid of the dark cloud caused by our anxiety: > > If material anxiety envelops you in a dark cloud, spiritual radiance lightens your > path. If your days on earth are numbered, you know that everlasting life awaits > you. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 111) > > Letting your light shine can have a very powerful effect on the world: > > Let your light shine before the eyes of men. Such must be the purity of your character > and the degree of your renunciation, that the people of the earth may through you > recognize and be drawn closer to the heavenly Father who is the Source of purity and > grace. (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 92) > > It can be as simple as starting with a smile. Look at the effect one small gesture can have: > > A bright and happy face cheers people on their way. If you are sad, and pass a child > who is laughing, the child, seeing your sad face, will cease to laugh, not knowing why. > If the day be dark, how much a gleam of sunshine is prized; so let believers wear > smiling happy faces, gleaming like sunshine in the darkness. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Abdu’l- > Bahá in London, p. 124-125) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 82 > > Overcoming Fear through Love > We know from the Writings that love casts out fear: > > Love is a light that never dwelleth in a heart possessed by fear. (Baha'u'llah, The > Four Valleys, p. 58) > > When referring to the Báb, he mentioned that “love had cast out fear” (Dr. J.E. > Esslemont, Baha'u'llah and the New Era, p. 22) > > We spoke earlier about the importance of faith, but did you know that: > > The first sign of faith is love. (Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. > 337) > > I found this quote extraordinary, particularly since God seems to have systematically > removed everyone who might love me from my life. I lost my parents and siblings to > estrangement caused by speaking out about my childhood abuse; my spouse to divorce > caused by my inability to deal with my issues and his at the same time; potential mates due > to excess childhood baggage on both sides; and my son who got too busy with his life to > include me in it. With each loss, I’ve had nowhere to turn but to God’s love. It’s been the > only constant, dependable, reliable and free source of love in my life. (Of course, my cats > come pretty close but their love is not “free” in the sense that they’re expensive to > maintain; and they die all too soon!) > > Through this process, I realize I have no idea what it means to love. My parent’s love for > me was violent and abusive; my husband’s love for me was conditional on my looking after > him; potential spouse’s love for me was conditional on providing sex outside marriage; and > my son’s love for me changed as he got older and didn’t need me any longer. My heart has > been broken so many times, it was pretty closed off to both giving and receiving love. After > the last potential husband left me, I described my heart to someone as hidden by a brick > wall. As soon as I said these words, I realized I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life > stuck there, especially as a Bahá’í, whose job is to love all the world and try to serve it! > > The wonderful part of this story is that all these losses helped me to achieve my life’s > purpose, which is to know and love God because I had to teach myself how to love from > scratch. > > Why is God’s Love so Important? > > The Bahá’í Writings tell us that through this love we receive eternal life and become the > living image of God: > > Through this love [that flows from God to man] man is endowed with physical > existence, until, through the breath of the Holy Spirit -- this same love -- he receives > eternal life and becomes the image of the Living God. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. > 179) > > And perhaps more importantly, it’s the origin of all the love in the world! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 83 > > This love [that flows from God to man] is the origin of all the love in the world of > creation. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 179) > > If I wanted to learn to love others, I first had to learn to love God. > > Love also gives healing to the sick, provides a balm to the wounded, and joy and > consolation to the whole world. I was certainly in need of all of these! > > There is nothing greater or more blessed than the Love of God! It gives healing to > the sick, balm to the wounded, joy and consolation to the whole world, and through > it alone can man attain Life Everlasting. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 82) > > Why Does God Love Us? > > John Ortberg, in his book “Love Beyond Reason”, (p. 179-180) says that: > > There is in every human heart an inextinguishable desire to be someone’s prince, > someone’s princess. We want to be beloved . . . This cry of our heart to be loved is > only the faint echo of God’s desire to love us. Before you were ever born, you were > beloved in the mind of God. This is the deepest secret to your identity. > > The Bahá’í Writings tell us that God created us in His image because He loves us: > > Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My > love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and > revealed to thee My beauty. (Bahá'u'lláh, Arabic Hidden Words 3) > > He created us noble. > > Noble I made thee . . . (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words 13) > > He created us with a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. > > Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. (Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings > from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 260). > > This is the truth. Everything else we believe about ourselves is a lie. > > John Ortberg continues: > > God’s love cannot be earned or won, only gratefully embraced. Nothing you will ever > do could make God love you more than he does right now: not greater achievement, > not greater beauty, not wider recognition, not even greater levels of spirituality and > obedience . . . Nothing you have ever done could make God love you any less; not > any sin, not any failure, not any guilt, nor any regret. The irony is we spend our lives > trying to earn the love that we can only receive when we admit our poverty of spirit . . > . To learn to live in the love of God is the challenge of a life-time. > > Learning to believe in God’s love isn’t easy! > > We can’t love God if we don’t love ourselves. When we’re in this prison, we’re suffering > from a breakdown in relationships, leading to separation and estrangement between us and > God. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 84 > > God often gets our attention by calling to us saying: > > O Beloved of God! > > When I meditated on this I found myself asking these questions: > >  If I am the beloved of God what more do I need to achieve or prove or acquire? > >  If I am the beloved of God, who else do I need to impress? What other ladder do I > need to climb? > >  If I am the beloved of God, what am I going to add to my resume that is going to > top that? > > John Ortberg suggests: > > What if you were to make your life an experiment of living in the love of God? Every > morning, when you wake up, let your fist words be “I am the beloved.” Each night, > when you go to sleep, let your last words echo, “I am the beloved.” (John Ortberg, > Love Beyond Reason, p. 182-183) > > In case it’s hard (if not impossible) to get your head around God’s love for you, Bahá'u'lláh > tells us how much we are loved: > > Thy name is often mentioned in the presence of this Wronged One and the glances of > Our loving-kindness and compassion are directed towards thee. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets > of Baha'u'llah, p. 174) > > He knows us; He sees our efforts; and He loves us unconditionally: > > Rejoice thou with great joy that We have remembered thee both now and in the past. > Indeed the sweet savours of this remembrance shall endure and shall not change > throughout the eternity of the Names of God, the Lord of mankind. We have graciously > accepted thy devotions, thy praise, thy teaching work and the services thou hast > rendered for the sake of this mighty Announcement. We have also hearkened unto > that which thy tongue hath uttered at the meetings and gatherings. Verily thy Lord > heareth and observeth all things. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 245) > > God has given us 'Abdul-Bahá, who loves each one of us too, and is continually praying for > us. He tells us: > > At all times do I speak of you and call you to mind. I pray unto the Lord, and with > tears I implore Him to rain down all these blessings upon you, and gladden your > hearts, and make blissful your souls, and grant you exceeding joy and heavenly > delights.... (Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 37) > Verily I love thee with all my heart and pray for thee every eve and morn (Abdu'l- > Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v1, p. 112) > > O maid-servant of God! Verily, I have not forgotten thee and will not forget thee. Trust > thou in the love of Abdul-Bahá, for verily, nothing equals it. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of > Abdu'l-Bahá v1, p. 201) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 85 > > It seems to me that 'Abdu’l-Bahá is showing us how to put into practice, this teaching of > Bahá'u'lláh: > > Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach > thee. (Baha'u'llah, Hidden Words, Arabic 5) > > Because I see evidence for 'Abdu’l-Bahá’s love for me in these quotes, I want to love Him > and turn to Him as my hero and role model. > > And if you still need more earthly evidence of His love for us, just read any of the messages > from the Universal House of Justice or even your National Spiritual Assembly, who always > address us with great tenderness. > > And if we find ourselves in need of potent prayers from the Universal House of Justice, all > we have to do is write and ask them! We can write to the House at secretariat@bwc.org > and we can also address our prayer requests to the secretary of our NSA. > > When we allow ourselves to be infected with the love of God, we will have a significant > effect on the progress of the whole world. Shoghi Effendi used the image of leaven as a > picture of contagion. Leaven is what happens when you add yeast to bread dough – it > causes it to ferment and expand. In the spiritual realm, leaven produces an altering or > transforming influence. God’s love for us has given us the ability to leaven the world, if only > we are patient enough to recognize that the process is happening, unseen and unobserved. > > Even though outwardly the number of the friends has not been increasing so rapidly, > yet the spirit has not remained idle. The leaven of spirituality has been working, and > when the time will come it will manifest itself in a sudden awakening. All that we > need is a little more courage, perseverance and patience. There are many important > men that are attentively watching the progress of the Faith but are reluctant to come > forward and extend a helping hand. In time they will, and then we shall see the > Cause of God spread by leaps and bounds. (Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of > the British Baha'i Community, p. 430) > > In a world the structure of whose political and social institutions is impaired, whose > vision is befogged, whose conscience is bewildered, whose religious systems have > become anemic and lost their virtue, this healing Agency, this leavening Power, this > cementing Force, intensely alive and all-pervasive, has been taking shape, is > crystallizing into institutions, is mobilizing its forces, and is preparing for the spiritual > conquest and the complete redemption of mankind. Though the society which > incarnates its ideals be small, and its direct and tangible benefits as yet > inconsiderable, yet the potentialities with which it has been endowed, and through > which it is destined to regenerate the individual and rebuild a broken world, are > incalculable. (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 195) > > We have been Chosen by God > > We have all known the pain of being on the outside, of not being wanted when they chose > up teams, of being spurned by someone we love, or forgotten by someone we thoughts was > a friend, or being held at arm’s length by someone in our family, maybe even our spouse. > Now God tells us that He had chosen us! We are wanted by God, if by no one else! God > claims us as part of His family. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 86 > > For I say unto you that He has chosen you to be His messengers of love throughout > the world, to be His bearers of spiritual gifts to man, to be the means of spreading > unity and concord on the earth. Thank God with all your hearts that such a privilege > has been given unto you. For a life devoted to praise is not too long in which to > thank God for such a favour. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 68) > > From amongst all mankind hath He chosen you, and your eyes have been opened to > the light of guidance and your ears attuned to the music of the Company above; and > blessed by abounding grace, your hearts and souls have been born into new life. > (Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 35) > O ye who are set aglow with the fire of God's Love! Blessed are ye for having been > chosen by God for His love, in this new age, and joy be to you for having been > guided to the Great Kingdom! Verily, your Lord hath chosen you to show the path to > the Kingdom of God, among the people. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v1, p. > 83) > > This is a healing balm to those of us who have been abused or abandoned by others! Many > of us were told that we were “chosen” for the abuse, or we came to believe that there was > something on our foreheads that singled us out for victimhood. So the concept of being > “chosen” doesn’t have positive connotations. > > Then in school, many of us longed to “fit in”; to be “chosen” for friends; for people to play > with at recess; to be picked for sports teams, and when we weren’t, we felt worthless and > abandoned. > > How great an honour it is, to know that we’ve been chosen by God! That He loves us and > has plans for us. This is such an important part of our healing! > > How I learned to love: > > So how did I learn how to love? It started with this quote: > > Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach > thee. (Baha'u'llah, Hidden Words, Arabic 5) > > This seemed like pretty good advice, not only in terms of my relationship to God but to > other people too. I started to experiment with it by saying and doing loving things for > people and watching their hearts soften towards me. > > Then I had to look at the link between love and faith, as I worked through these questions. > Maybe you can relate to some of them: > >  How do we know that God is even there so we can love him, if we are sick, alone, > estranged from our family, bankrupt, homeless and we’ve just been raped? Faith. > >  How can we possibly believe in a loving God if we haven’t ever felt loved from our > families; if we’ve grown up neglected and abused and have no foundation or training > from loving parents? Faith. > >  What if all of these calamites have happened AFTER we’ve recognized Bahá'u'lláh > and done all the right things – pioneered, participated in the core activities, donated > to the fund, paid our Huqúq, prayed and mediated every day and we are still > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 87 > > marginalized from the society around us, and even worse, from the indifference of > the Bahá'í community around us – raped, alone, abandoned, homeless, unemployed, > bankrupt, sick, estranged from our families . . . ? Faith. > >  How do we have faith when there is no love? When we feel abandoned by God, or > worse, maybe cursed or punished? But for what crime? Faith. > > These are questions many of us have asked at one time or another. > > How do we start building faith from a place where we don’t feel loved? > > There are no quick and easy answers to this question! I had to take myself back to the > fundamental reason I became a Bahá’í – I believed that Bahá'u'lláh was who He claimed to > be, and that He had the blueprint for humanity to get itself out of the mess it’s in, therefore > I could probably find the answers in the Writings. Sure enough, I did! > > It was amazing how by studying the Writings morning and night, I was led to answers to > questions I didn’t even know I was grappling with! I wish I could distil what I’ve learned > into an easy to follow recipe, but how can you see the ocean in a drop? > > Everything I’ve written on my blog at www.susangammage.com/blog; or in my first book > “Violence and Abuse: Reasons and Remedies” and here in this book is an attempt to share > what I’ve learned. Finding the answer is like trying to put together a puzzle without being > able to look at the picture on the box! > > One of the first teachings I had to understand was that God loved me and promised never > to forsake me. I didn’t know what this meant, but I knew I could trust it: > > Whatever hath befallen you, hath been for the sake of God. This is the truth, and in > this there is no doubt. You should, therefore, leave all your affairs in His Hands, place > your trust in Him, and rely upon Him. He will assuredly not forsake you. In this, > likewise, there is no doubt. (Bahá'u'lláh, Fire and Light, p. 10) > > Then I needed to learn that I was trapped in the prison of self. I’d put myself there, and > God was willing to show me where to find the key and the keyhole, so that I could set > myself free. > > It helped to learn that even the Manifestation of God grappled with questions such as these, > as he poured out his heart to God: > > Hast Thou decreed for me, O my God, any joy after this tribulation, or any relief to > succeed this affliction, or any ease to follow this trouble? (Baha'u'llah: Epistle to > the Son of the Wolf, Pages: 7-8) > > It also helped me to understand that even the Manifestations of God, who had access to > God’s love on a continual basis, also sometimes got tired and cried out in despair: > > We must not only be patient with others, infinitely patient!, but also with our own poor > selves, remembering that even the Prophets of God sometimes got tired and cried out > in despair! (Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha'i Community, p. > 456) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 88 > > The following prayer gave me some hope that my present feelings might not persist: > > My God, my Adored One, my King, my Desire! What tongue can voice my thanks to > Thee? I was heedless, Thou didst awaken me. I had turned back from Thee, Thou > didst graciously aid me to turn towards Thee. I was as one dead, Thou didst quicken > me with the water of life. I was withered, Thou didst revive me. (Baha'u'llah, > Prayers and Meditations, p. 264) > > Shoghi Effendi’s warning helped too! Being a perfectionist, I didn’t want to be one of those > Bahá’ís who failed their tests! In this quote I learned something about the Covenant and > what happens when we don’t do our part: > > Life is a constant struggle, not only against forces around us, but above all against our > own "ego". We can never afford to rest on our oars, for if we do, we soon see > ourselves carried down stream again. Many of those who drift from the Cause do so > for the reason that they had ceased to go on developing. They become complacent, or > indifferent, and consequently cease to draw the spiritual strength and vitality from the > Cause which they should have. Sometimes, of course, people fail because of a test > they just to do not meet, and often our severest tests come from each other. Certainly > the believers should try to avert such things, and if they happen, remedy them > through love. Generally speaking, nine-tenths of the Friends' troubles are because > they don't do the Bahá'í thing, in relation to each other, to the administrative bodies, > or in their personal lives. (Shoghi Effendi, Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 87- > 88) > > Once I learned how to have a relationship with God and trust His love for me, I had to move > on to establish loving relationships with other people as a means of getting rid of my fear. > > Relationships with God at the Core: > > I found this diagram very helpful in showing that the easiest way to get closer to another > person is to get closer to God. Obviously this is easier if both parties believe in God and are > willing to move towards Him! As the diagram below shows, the relationship would be closer > than if neither partner was moving closer to God, but not nearly as close as it could be. > > God > > You Me > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 89 > > In any case, it’s not my job to get you to go closer to God; it’s my job to focus all my > attention on developing my relationship to God, and trusting that you will too. > > Each of us is responsible for one life only, and that is our own. Each of us is > immeasurably far from being 'perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect' and the task of > perfecting our own life and character is one that requires all our attention, our will- > power and energy. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 92) > > If we allow our attention and energy to be taken up in efforts to keep others right and > remedy their faults, we are wasting precious time. We are like ploughmen each of > whom has his team to manage and his plough to direct, and in order to keep his > furrow straight he must keep his eye on his goal and concentrate on his own task. If > he looks to this side and that to see how Tom and Harry are getting on and to criticize > their ploughing, then his own furrow will assuredly become crooked. (Shoghi Effendi, > Lights of Guidance, p. 92) > > Having said that, without God in the equation, none of our relationships can be as strong as > they could be; and in fact the glue that holds them together is not strong enough to hold. > > But the love which sometimes exists between friends is not (true) love, because it is > subject to transmutation; this is merely fascination. As the breeze blows, the slender > trees yield. If the wind is in the East the tree leans to the West, and if the wind turns > to the West the tree leans to the East. This kind of love is originated by the > accidental conditions of life. This is not love, it is merely acquaintanceship; it is > subject to change. Today you will see two souls apparently in close friendship; > tomorrow all this may be changed. Yesterday they were ready to die for one another, > today they shun one another’s society! This is not love; it is the yielding of the > hearts to the accidents of life. When that which has caused this “love” to exist > passes, the love passes also; this is not in reality love. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, > pp. 179-181) > > In her diary, Juliet Thompson quotes ‘Abdu'l-Bahá as using this analogy: > > Now associate with good people. You must try to associate with those who will do > you good and who will be the cause of your being more awakened, and not with > those who will make you negligent of God. For example, if one goes into a garden > and associates with flowers, one will surely inhale the beautiful fragrance, but if one > goes to a place where there are bad-scented plants, it is sure he will inhale an > unpleasant odour. In short, I mean that you will try to be with those who are purified > and sanctified souls. Man must always associate with those from whom he can get > light, or be with those to whom he can give light. He must either receive or give > instructions. Otherwise, being with people without these two intentions, he is > spending his time for nothing, and, by so doing, he is neither gaining nor causing > others to gain. (The Diary of Juliet Thompson) > > ‘Abdu'l-Bahá further tells us the difference between associating with those who have God in > their hearts: > > True friends are even as skilled physicians, and the Teachings of God are as healing > balm, a medicine for the conscience of man. They clear the head, so that a man can > breathe them in and delight in their sweet fragrance. They waken those who sleep. > They bring awareness to the unheeding, and a portion to the outcast, and to the > hopeless, hope. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 23) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 90 > > He further tells us: > > When any souls grow to be true believers, they will attain a spiritual relationship with > one another, and show forth a tenderness which is not of this world. They will, all of > them, become elated from a draught of divine love, and that union of theirs, that > connection, will also abide forever. Souls, that is, who will consign their own selves > to oblivion, strip from themselves the defects of humankind, and unchain themselves > from human bondage, will beyond any doubt be illumined with the heavenly > splendours of oneness, and will all attain unto real union in the world that dieth not. > (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 84-85) > > Without the love of God in our hearts, we will never be able to attain the standard the Faith > sets before us for turning strangers into friends: > > One of the teachings is that love and faithfulness must so prevail in the hearts that > men may see the stranger as a friend, the sinner as an intimate fellow, may count > enemies as allies, regard foes as loving comrades, call their executioner the giver of > life, and consider the denier as a believer and the unbeliever as a faithful one -- that > is, men must behave in such a manner as may befit the believers, the faithful, the > friend and the confidant. If this lamp may shine in a befitting manner in the > assemblage of the world you will find that the regions will become fragrant and the > world will become a delectable paradise, the surface of the earth will become an > excellent garden, the world will become as one home, the different nations will > become as one kind, and the peoples and nationalities of the East and West will > become as one household. I hope such a day will come and such lights may dawn > and such a Countenance may appear in the utmost beauty. (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Baha'i > Scriptures, p. 479) > > Spiritual relationships endure through all the worlds of God: > > Bodily relationships may pass; even two sisters may be inimical to each other, but > the spiritual relationship is eternal, and brings about mutual love and service. > (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p. 75) > > Marriage should lead to a profound friendship of spirit, which will endure in the next > world, where there is no sex, and no giving and taking in marriage; just the way we > should establish with our parents, our children, our brothers and sisters and friends > deep spiritual bond which will be ever-lasting, and not merely physical bonds of > human relationship. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 206) > > As we know from the short obligatory prayer, the purpose of every soul in this world is to > know and worship God: > > I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship > Thee. (Baha'u'llah, Baha'i Prayers, p. 3) > > When we say this prayer every day, and strive to implement it in our own lives, we can’t > help but draw closer to God. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 91 > > We also know that even after death, all souls continue to progress towards God. > > And now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its survival after > death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will > continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition > which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of > this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, > His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest the signs of God and His > attributes, and will reveal His loving kindness and bounty. (Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings > from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 155-156) > > Obviously there are many paths to God, and it’s even been said that “there are not atheists > in foxholes”, meaning that when the tests get most severe, even an atheist will reach out to > God. God doesn’t distinguish between Bahá'í or non-Bahá'í. Even when relationships are > strained in this world, there is hope for closeness in the next world: > > Are not all the people in that world the creatures of God? Therefore, in that world > also they can make progress. As here they can receive light by their supplications, > there also they can plead for forgiveness and receive light through entreaties and > supplications. Thus as souls in this world, through the help of the supplications, the > entreaties and the prayers of the holy ones, can acquire development, so is it the > same after death. Through their own prayers and supplications they can also > progress, more especially when they are the object of the intercession of the Holy > Manifestations. (Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 17) > > Those of us who are Bahá'í know that spiritual relationships are stronger than blood > relationships: > > The friends should … draw closer to each other, knowing that they form one spiritual > family, closer to each other, in the sight of God, than those united by ties of blood. > (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 8 May, 1948). > > This doesn’t mean that we won’t see our non-Bahá'í loved ones in the next world. Far from > it, as ‘Abdu'l-Bahá tells us: > > A love that one may have entertained for any one will not be forgotten in the world > of the Kingdom. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 205-206) > > When family members are focused on God, there is more likely to be unity in a family, > which will have a positive effect on the whole family: > > Note ye how easily, where unity existeth in a given family, the affairs of that family > are conducted; what progress the members of that family make, how they prosper in > the world. Their concerns are in order, they enjoy comfort and tranquility, they are > secure, their position is assured, they come to be envied by all. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, > Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 278) > > On a practical level, Baha'u'llah gives us some guidance on how we can do this: > > If any differences arise amongst you, behold Me standing before your face, and > overlook the faults of one another for My name's sake and as a token of your love for > My manifest and resplendent Cause. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of > Baha'u'llah, p. 315) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 92 > > Forming friendships with those who think they can do it without God are to be avoided as a > protection to ourselves: > > Expect not that they who violate the ordinances of God will be trustworthy or sincere > in the faith they profess. Avoid them, and preserve strict guard over thyself, lest > their devices and mischief hurt thee. Turn away from them, and fix thy gaze upon > God, thy Lord, the All-Glorious, the Most Bountiful. He that giveth up himself wholly > to God, God shall, assuredly, be with him; and he that placeth his complete trust in > God, God shall, verily, protect him from whatsoever may harm him, and shield him > from the wickedness of every evil plotter.” > (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 210) > > A good test you can use is to ask yourself: after I have contact with this person, is my faith > strengthened or weakened? Is my commitment to the laws of God strengthened or > weakened? > > Then act accordingly. > > When we take Baha'u'llah’s injunctions seriously and to seek the company of the righteous, > we will draw closer to God; have more unified relationships; and ensure happiness in all the > worlds of God. I think that’s a good reason to put God at the core of all of our relationships. > What do you think? > > Building Friendships: > > With regards to building friendships, I came across this quote and decided I had to put it > into practice: > > In fact, every one of the believers should choose one person every year and try to > establish ties of friendship with him, so that all his fear would disappear. ('Abdu'l- > Bahá, in The Individual and Teaching: Raising the Divine Call, p. 12) > > I always pay attention to Writings that claim to be “a secret”. What child doesn’t love > secrets? I’m certainly no exception! If God wants to tell me a secret, that’s pretty exciting! > > Know thou of a certainty that Love is the secret of God’s holy Dispensation (Abdu’l- > Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 27) > > I wondered what it meant that “love was the secret”? I decided to test it out in a variety of > settings. What would happen if I responded with love to someone’s anger? What if, when > someone speaks unkindly to me, I try responding by asking: > >  Are you ok? >  Are you having a difficult day? > > It’s amazing to watch their jaws drop and their face soften! > > I put this approach to the test one day when I went to my local Postal Office. The lady > serving me was extremely rude. Rather than responding in anger, I decided to try the > loving approach. I went to the bakery across the street, bought a large chocolate cookie, > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 93 > > returned to the Post Office, gave it to her, and wished her a great day. Ever since, she has > been very nice to me. > > Some cynics might call this manipulative and perhaps it was, but at the time, my intentions > were pure. I was trying to put into practice what I was learning, with no expectation of > results. I think that’s the key. We have to be loving without expecting a reward. > > The guiding motive of the true Bábí must be pure love, without hope of reward or fear > of punishment. (The Báb, Baha'u'llah and the New Era, p. 21) > > While finding ways to be loving is its own reward, it’s also fun to see an immediate, tangible > reward as a friend of mine discovered on a recent trip to Germany. Here is the story in her > own words: > > It was Sunday morning, and I stayed with my Persian friends. The wife encouraged > me to have a walk along the river Rheine, which can be seen from their window on the > third floor. The sun just came out this Sunday and the view was breath taking from > the City of Mainz an old Bishop city with the Hugh DOM and many churches. So I went > along the beautiful river Rheine past the side where opposite the river Main joins the > river Rhein. Many people were out for running, walking and just enjoying the rare sun > shine in Germany. > > I said some prayers and decided to wish every single person a "Good Morning". People > responded happily. Nearly towards the end of my 2 hour walk a lady came walking > rather fast with a little dog. When I said "Good morning" she immediately stopped, > looked at me and said, do we know each other? So I responded: I do not know, but > may be? She looked for a few seconds very intensively at me and then with a scream > she said BARBARA! I looked at her as well, but didn’t recognize her until > she mentioned my name. At this moment I knew who she was. She said since 10 > years she has been looking for me, but all the friends she asked did not know where I > was. We both lived in another city in earlier years and now we have met after 28 > years again. It was 20 Years this September that I left Germany for Haifa. She lives > now with her husband one block from my Baha'i friends. So we had a lot to catch up > with. It only happened because I have decided to wish every single person a "good > morning." She was also the only one who asked me whether we know each other. > > Recently I came across a letter I'd saved (I've moved so often it's amazing to me that I kept > it!). It was written from someone I shared a locker with in grades 7-9 (we were 12-14). I > went looking for her on the internet and found her at a site called classmates.com. I sent > her a message, but to get a message back I had to pay (and I'm too cheap); and she didn't > pay either - but somehow she got my name and started looking on the internet for me! She > found my blog, learned where I lived and found my phone number (our phone company has > the phone book online)! So she called me up and we caught up (she even knew how to say > Baha'i correctly! She wants to hire me as a life coach!). So miracles abound when we act > with love - and as I am reminded so often (from the quote in Ruhi book 1) - God's bounties > are constantly showering down on us and it's our job to catch them. > > The whole duty of man in this Day is to attain that share of the flood of grace which > God poureth forth for him. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. > 8) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 94 > > A Love Letter from God > God’s love for us is immense! The more we immerse ourselves in the Ocean of God’s > Words, the more we begin to realize how serious He is about His love for us. And we need > to feel it; to fill our souls up with it, if we are to have the energy or ability to teach or to > serve His Cause. > > To that end, I’ve combined short quotes into a Love Letter from God, to remind me of His > love for me. As you read it, imagine it’s written just for you (as indeed it was!). > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart![1] > > I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine > image and revealed to thee My beauty.[2] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > My claim on thee is great, it cannot be forgotten. My grace to thee is plenteous, it > cannot be veiled. My love has made in thee its home, it cannot be concealed. My > light is manifest to thee, it cannot be obscured. [3] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > Rejoice thou with great joy that We have remembered thee both now and in the > past. Indeed the sweet savours of this remembrance shall endure and shall not > change throughout the eternity of the Names of God, the Lord of mankind. [4] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > Sorrow not if, in these days and on this earthly plane, things contrary to your wishes > have been ordained and manifested by God, for days of blissful joy, of heavenly > delight, are assuredly in store for you. [5] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > I have not forgotten nor will I forget thee. [6] Verily, my soul longs for thee, for the > lamp of the love of Baha’ is lighted within thy heart and I love to look upon thy face. > [7] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > I have utmost love for thee and thy family for thou servest me — how can I be > offended at you? Be assured and happy. [8] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 95 > > I love thee with all my heart and pray for thee every eve and morn. [9] I have called > thee by thy name; thou art Mine. [10] At all times do I speak of you and call you to > mind. I pray unto the Lord, and with tears I implore Him to rain down all these > blessings upon you, and gladden your hearts, and make blissful your souls, and > grant you exceeding joy and heavenly delights. [11] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > Thy name is often mentioned in the presence of this Wronged One and the glances of > Our loving-kindness and compassion are directed towards thee.[12] The hearts are > cheered whenever you are mentioned, the souls are comforted in your love, the holy > spirits are captivated by your fragrance, the eyes are expecting to see you and the > hearts are longing to meet you. [13] Indeed could ye but know how dear ye are in > the presence of your true and heavenly Father, ye would stretch forth your wings > and take your flight. [14] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > Surely a day will come when all thy desires will be attained and God will answer all > that which thou hast prayed for in thine heart, and I beg of Him to make all that > which thou hast longed for, long ago, very attainable. Then thine heart will be > overflowed with joy on account of such a great bounty. [15] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > God has crowned you with honour and in your hearts has He set a radiant star; > verily the light thereof shall brighten the whole world! [16] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > He has chosen you to be His messengers of love throughout the world, to be His > bearers of spiritual gifts to man, to be the means of spreading unity and concord on > the earth. Thank God with all your hearts that such a privilege has been given unto > you.[17] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > We have graciously accepted thy devotions, thy praise, thy teaching work and the > services thou hast rendered for the sake of this mighty Announcement. We have also > hearkened unto that which thy tongue hath uttered at the meetings and gatherings. > Verily thy Lord heareth and observeth all things. [18] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > Know thou that, verily, the eye of favors is directed to thee and is beholding thee > with a divine glance, so that thou mayest, with clear eyes, see the lights of the > Kingdom upon the horizon. Remember, at all times, this great favor and thank thy > Lord and supplicate to Him every day. [19] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 96 > > I hope that, in the path of the love of God, thou wilt exert thyself exceedingly and > thy wilt enjoy life. [20] > > O thou (insert your name), beloved of my heart! > > Now I say unto you, bear this on your hearts and in your minds. Verily your light > shall illumine the whole world, your spirituality shall affect the heart of things. You > shall in truth become the lighted torches of the globe. Fear not, neither be dismayed, > for your light shall penetrate the densest darkness. This is the Promise of God, which > I give unto you. Rise! and serve the Power of God! [21] > > With Deepest Abiding Love, > > God > > Your True and Heavenly Father > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 97 > > Overcoming Fear with Forgiveness > One of the keys to overcoming any sin, including fear is to forgive: > >  The person who caused the fear >  Yourself for believing the lie and keeping yourself on the hamster wheel >  God for sending you the test > > And then we ask God for His forgiveness for blaming Him and others, and for holding on to > the fear. > > We do this for every single incident we can think of. > > It’s a simple process but unbelievably powerful, effective and life-changing. I encourage > you to try it once and you’ll be hooked! > > My Story: > > For the first 17 years of my life, I was subjected to some of the worst forms of abuse > possible, at the hands of my parents. By the standards current today, particularly in the > abuse recovery movement, what was done to me was unforgiveable, and yet I forgave! > > I came to realize that the abuse perpetrated on me by myself, was far worse than anything > my parents had done to me, and I did it every minute of every day for the next 36 years. > How? By believing I was unworthy; a worthless piece of s**t; unwanted; unloved; and > unlovable. > > I believed these lies I told myself about what it meant that my parents could treat me in > such an abhorrent manner; as though I was a “thing”. I told myself that if they treated me > that way, they must not love me, therefore, I must not be loveable. These lies kept me > from being able to seek out friendships and a second marriage; kept me from fulfilling my > potential in the work-world, because they filled me with self-doubt, self-loathing, self-hatred > and self-pity. > > In short, I came to realize that I was full of self, which is exactly what the Bahá'í Writings > teach us we need to let go of: > > If the fire of self overcome you, remember your own faults and not the faults of My > creatures, inasmuch as every one of you knoweth his own self better than he knoweth > others. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words 66) > > If Baha'u'llah is right that: > > The world is but a show, vain and empty, a mere nothing, bearing the semblance of > reality. Set not your affections upon it. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of > Baha'u'llah, p. 328) > > Then maybe I need to look at what’s going on through God’s eyes, instead of the eyes of > the current world. He tells us: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 98 > > Close one eye and open the other. Close one to the world and all that is therein, and > open the other to the hallowed beauty of the Beloved. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian > Hidden Words) > > With that in mind, everything I consider and reflect on is now done totally through the eyes > of the Bahá'í Writings. I certainly don’t have all the answers and I welcome other people to > share their understanding of the Writings related to any given issue in a humble posture of > learning, so that we can all advance the process of better understanding how to recover > from abusive situations. > > So, back to forgiveness. > > Forgiving Others: > > I’ve gone through several stages in my understanding of if or why or how to forgive my > abusers. In the early days, I found a quote which I assumed was the Bahá'í standard: > > If some one commits an error and wrong toward you, you must instantly forgive > him. (Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 453) > > I certainly wasn’t in a position to do that, but I sincerely wanted to be obedient, so my > prayers in those days were: “OK God, I can’t forgive them, but You can, so please do!” > > Then in one of my letters from the House of Justice, they told me: > > As a devoted believer you are urged to strive to develop forgiveness in your heart > toward your parents who have abused you in so disgraceful a manner, and to attain > a level of insight which sees them as captives of their lower nature, whose actions > can only lead them deeper into unhappiness and separation from God. (From a letter > written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to this author, 9 September, > 1992) > > This was totally liberating! I loved their string of adjectives “strive to develop”, which > suggested that it could take a lifetime, and even if I never got there, as long as I was > striving to develop, that was OK with God. > > Secondly, I had to develop forgiveness “in my heart”, not between us! So if I was never > able to spend time with them again, it was enough to develop it in my heart, between God > and I. > > Finally, they wanted me to separate my parents from their sin – a concept I’ve just learned > recently, but when I come back to this quote now, I can see what this means “to attain a > level of insight which sees them as captives of their lower nature”. By refusing to forgive > them, I was not honoring the perfect beings that God created, I was only seeing the > monsters of their lower natures. That truly was liberating! > > I thought that forgiving my parents would be the hardest thing, but once I understood this > quote, it became easier: > > To forgive him will not be easy, and this is not something to which either you or the > members of your family can force yourselves. Nevertheless, you should know that > forgiveness is the standard which individual Baha'is are called upon to attain. It is an > essential part of the spiritual growth of a person who has been wronged. To nurse a > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 99 > > grievance or hatred against another soul is spiritually poisonous to the soul which > nurses it, but to strive to see another person as a child of God and, however heinous > his deeds, to attempt to overlook his sins for the sake of God, removes bitterness > from the soul and both ennobles and strengthens it. (Universal House of Justice to an > individual believer, 5 January 1992) > > It’s not enough to forgive someone once, or even a few times. The Baha'i standard is to > forgive someone a hundred thousand times: > > Show ye an endeavor that all the nations and communities of the world, even the > enemies, put their trust, assurance and hope in you; that if a person falls into errors > for a hundred-thousand times he may yet turn his face to you, hopeful that you will > forgive his sins; for he must not become hopeless, neither grieved nor despondent. > This is the conduct and the manner of the people of Baha'. This is the foundation of > the most high pathway! (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 436) > > Looking at how 'Abdul-Bahá did it will help: > > The peerless example of 'Abdu'l-Bahá merits close scrutiny in your quest for a sense > of forgiveness; His abiding love for humanity, despite its waywardness and > perversity enabled Him to manifest sincere compassion and magnanimity to those > who had brought Him distress and hardship. (The Universal House of Justice, 1985 > Dec 02, Child Abuse, Psychology and Knowledge of Self) > > He forgave without speaking about it: > > ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s signet ring disappeared during his Western journey. The Master had > confided His loss to Florence and Khan, and named the thief but He did not wish > them to speak of it. (Earl Redman, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Their Midst, p. 228) > > He forgave by looking at situations with love: > > During this second stay in Chicago, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá chose to stay in Corrine True’s > home for a day or two before moving to a hotel. When He arrived with His > secretaries, Corrine serve them all tea. Unfortunately, it was a type of tea that > Persians don’t like, and some of them remarked that “there was a better tea”. But > the Master drank it anyway, saying, “This tea is very good because it is been > prepared with love.” (Earl Redman, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Their Midst, p. 192) > > He forgave with kindness: > > There was a time when the Covenant-Breakers ‘gave away the garments and > personal effects of Bahá’u’lláh to government functionaries, to serve as chattels of > bribery and to provide as well the means of humiliating ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. At their > instigation the Deputy-Governor of Haifa would, whilst visiting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, > ostentatiously wear Bahá’u’lláh’s cloak and brazenly use His spectacles. Before long > this man was dismissed from his post and fell on evil days. Then he went to ‘Abdu’l- > Bahá and begged His forgiveness. He had acted, he said, in the manner he did, > because he was prompted by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s own relatives. The Master showed him > utmost kindness and generosity...’ (Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of > ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 84) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 100 > > He forgave through generosity: > > Juliet Thompson and other Bahá’ís decided to give the Master a birthday party, and a > few of them baked a cake. She reported, ‘We took several taxis to the Bronx, with > the Master riding in the first one. As soon as His taxi had arrived there, the Master > got out and walked into the park ahead of the rest of us. ‘A group of young boys > gathered around Him and started to laugh. Two or three of them threw stones at > Him. With natural concern many of the friends hurried towards the Master, but He > told them to stay away. The boys came closer to the Master, jeered at Him and > pulled at His clothes. The Master did not become cross. He merely smiled at them > radiantly, but the boys continued to behave as before. Then the Master turned > towards the friends. ‘Bring me the cake,’ He said. No one had mentioned to Him that > we had brought a cake. ‘Some of us said, “But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the cake is for your > birthday.” He repeated, “Bring me the cake.” A friend uncovered a large sponge > cake, with white icing, and gave it to the Master. As soon as the boys had seen the > cake they began to calm down, and stared at the cake hungrily. ‘The Master took it > in His hands and looked at the cake with pleasure. The boys were now standing > quietly around Him. “Bring me a knife,” said the Master. A friend brought Him a > knife. The Master counted the number of boys who were standing around Him and > then cut the cake into the same number of pieces. Each boy eagerly took a piece, ate > it with relish, and then ran away happily.’ (Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the > Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 45) > > He forgave by giving gifts: > > At one time the Master had a fine cloak of Persian wool, which had been given to > Him. When a poor man appealed to Him for a garment, He sent for this cloak and > gave it to him. The man took it but complained, saying it was only of cotton. ‘No,’ > ‘Abbas Effendi assured him, ‘it is of wool‘; and to prove it He lighted a match and > burned a little of the nap. The man still grumbled that it was not good. ‘Abbas Effendi > reproved him for criticizing a gift, but He ended the interview by directing an > attendant to give the man a mejidi (a coin then worth about four francs). It was > observed that if someone vexed the Master, He always gave him a gift. (Honnold, > Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 75) > > He forgave by spending time with them: > > If you could have seen the brute, Juliet, mumbling out his miserable excuses! But > the Master took him in His arms and said: ‘All those things are in the past. Never > think of them again.’ Then He invited Zillu’s-Sultan two sons to spend a day with > Him. (Misc Bahá’í, The Diary of Juliet Thompson) > > On the other hand, there were times when He too, ran out of patience: > > After returning to the holy land ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent Dr. Baghdadi a Tablet, and > directed that copies be distributed to every community so that all could read it. The > Master wrote here that during his stay in America he had forgiven a certain member > of his suite four times, but that he would forgive the man’s misdeeds no longer. > ‘Abdu’l-Bahá returned to Haifa, he proceeded directly to the room with His wife, > Munirih Khanum, and said in a feeble voice, “Dr. Fareed has ground me down!” (Earl > Redman, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Their Midst, p. 228) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 101 > > Having forgiven someone, you might still I wonder how much contact to have with those > who have hurt you. The House of Justice offered me the following three steps, which you > might find helpful: > > Such an attitude [forgiveness] does not preclude your being prudent in deciding upon > the appropriate amount of contact with your parents. In reaching your decision you > should be guided by such factors as: > >  their degree of remorse over what they inflicted on you in the past > >  the extent of their present involvement in practices which are so contrary to > Bahá'í Teachings > >  the level of vulnerability you perceive within yourself to being influenced > adversely by them. > > In the process of reaching a decision, you may well find it useful to seek the advice > of experts such as your therapist. (Universal House of Justice, to the author, 9 > September 1992) > > Forgiving Myself: > > I took each individual act of abuse that had ever happened, for each person who had > abused me. I looked at the lies I’d believed as an outcome of each single event. I forgave > myself for each one; asked God for His forgiveness; and forgave each perpetrator. > Immediately a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders and I’ve been free of anxiety (which > is really fear) and depression (which is really self-pity) ever since. > > Asking God for Forgiveness > > I don’t know what your concept of God is, but mine is that He is: > >  God of Grace to the wicked > >  My Beloved > >  My only Hope > >  My Sanctuary > >  My sole Desire > >  The All-Forgiving > >  The All-Knowing Counselor > >  The All-Merciful > >  The Beloved > >  The Beloved of my soul > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 102 > >  The Benevolent > >  The Best Lover > >  The Bestower of favours > >  The Bestowing One > >  The Bountiful One > >  The Brightener > >  The Bringer of Delight > >  The Comforter > >  The Compassionate with all > >  The Everlasting Father > >  The Forgiving > >  The Friend > >  The Generous > >  The Great Giver > >  The Haven for all > >  The Healer > >  The Help in Peril > >  The Helper > >  The Helping One > >  The Incomparable Friend > >  The Kind to all > >  The Life-giving One > >  The Lord of Joy > >  The Loving > >  The Merciful > >  The Most Compassionate > >  The Most Merciful One > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 103 > >  The One alone Beloved > >  The Physician > >  The Pitier of the downtrodden > >  The Protector > >  The Refuge of the fearful > >  The Restorer > >  The River that is life indeed > >  The Satisfier > >  The Shelter to all > >  The Source of everlasting life > >  The Succorer of all > >  The Supreme Companion > >  The Supreme Helper > >  The Sustaining One > >  The True Physician > > Does that sound like the kind of God that would condemn anyone for all of eternity? Yet > many of us are afraid to turn to Him, fearing His wrath, condemnation, judgment and > punishment. Beneath the fear is that we are going straight to hell for the things we have > done or failed to do. This is a lot of negative thinking to overcome! > > The truth is that despite the fact that we’re told to fear God, nowhere in the Writings does it > refer to God as the: > >  All-Wrathful >  The Ever-Unforgiving >  The Never Forgiving >  The All Condemning >  The All Judgmental > > God forgives our sins every Ridván! > > He, of a certainty, is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous. Verily, all created things > were immersed in the sea of purification when, on that first day of Ridvan, We shed > upon the whole of creation the splendours of Our most excellent Names and Our > most exalted Attributes. This, verily, is a token of My loving providence, which hath > encompassed all the worlds. (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 47) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 104 > > There’s no sin that’s unforgiveable. God even forgives covenant breakers! > > It is important to note that should a Covenant-breaker recognize his mistakes, > become conscious of his transgressions against the Cause of God and find the urge > to repent, the Centre of the Cause, when satisfied he is sincerely repentant, will > forgive his past deeds and restore his credibility and status as a Bahá’í in good > standing in the community. (Adib Taherzadeh, The Child of the Covenant, p. 240) > > God forgives anyone who asks because His mercy exceeds His fury! Once you've been > forgiven, your sins are washed away! > > Wherefore, hearken ye unto My speech, and return ye to God and repent, that He, > through His grace, may have mercy upon you, may wash away your sins, and forgive > your trespasses. The greatness of His mercy surpasseth the fury of His wrath, and > His grace encompasseth all who have been called into being and been clothed with > the robe of life." (Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 130) > > It’s like being born anew: > > Say: Be not despondent. After the revelation of this blessed verse it is as though thou > hast been born anew from thy mother’s womb. (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. > 77) > > He’s assures everyone who responds to His call of His forgiveness, and doesn’t want us to > be afraid or sorry. > > Fear not, nor be Thou grieved, for indeed unto such as have responded to Thy Call, > whether men or women, We have assured forgiveness of sins, as known in the > presence of the Best Beloved and in conformity with what Thou desirest. Verily His > knowledge embraceth all things. (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, > p. 54) > > He wants us to be proud of this bounty: > > We have attired his temple with the robe of forgiveness and adorned his head with the > crown of pardon. It beseemeth him to pride himself among all men upon this > resplendent, this radiant and manifest bounty . . . Say: Thou art free from sin and > error. Truly God hath purged thee with the living waters of His utterance in His Most > Great Prison. (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 77) > > And we know that all sins are forgiven in ‘Akká. > > Verily, he that entereth therein, longing for it and eager to visit it, God will forgive > his sins, both of the past and of the future. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the > Wolf, p. 178) > > The Prophet -- may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon Him -- is stated > to have said: "In 'Akká are works of supererogation and acts which are beneficial, > which God vouchsafed specially unto whomsoever He pleaseth. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle > to the Son of the Wolf, p. 179 - 181) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 105 > > If we have the bounty of going on pilgrimage we can go to Akká and recite these verses: > > And he that saith in 'Akká: 'Glorified be God, and praise be unto God, and there is > none other God but God, and most great is God, and there is no power nor strength > except in God, the Exalted, the Mighty,' God will write down for him a thousand good > deeds, and blot out from him a thousand evil deeds, and will uplift him a thousand > grades in Paradise, and will forgive him his transgressions. > > And whoso saith in 'Akká: 'I beg forgiveness of God,' God will forgive all his > trespasses . . . > > The Apostle of God -- may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon Him -- > hath also said: "He that looketh upon the sea at eventide, and saith: 'God is Most > Great!' at sunset, God will forgive his sins, though they be heaped as piles of sand. > > And he that counteth forty waves, while repeating: 'God is Most Great!' -- exalted be > He -- God will forgive his sins, both past and future." (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son > of the Wolf, p. 179 - 181) > > And even if we never make it there, we can do it in our imaginations, since God accepts > intention: > > Every act ye meditate is as clear to Him as is that act when already accomplished. > (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 150) > > Every spotless action, every sincere intent of ours will win the commendation of the > True One, will be exalted and magnified by Him, and requited with a bounteous > recompense. (Shoghi Effendi, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 351-352) > > My Process: > > Once I understood that God loved me and created me perfect, I realized I had to forgive the > lies emanating from my lower nature about my being unworthy and unlovable. They > weren’t God’s truth, therefore why would I make them mine? > > With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; > and within thee have I placed the essence of My light. Be thou content with it and > seek naught else, for My work is perfect and My command is binding. Question it not, > nor have a doubt thereof. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words) > > Then I had to look at the veils that had come between me and God as a result of my lack of > forgiveness (anger, pride, self-pity, mistrust); and ask God for His forgiveness. I knew that > I was forgiven because I started to feel lighter and happier, and because of quotes like this, > I found myself doing more good deeds than ever before: > > Thy generous Lord will . . . forgive thee thy sins and change them to good deeds. > Verily the Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v1, > p. 89) > > The more I grew in my understanding of God’s forgiveness, the more I realized that of > course God has forgiven all of us! He did so a LONG time ago! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 106 > > God hath forgiven what is past. Henceforward everyone should utter that which is > meet and seemly, and should refrain from slander, abuse and whatever causeth > sadness in men. Lofty is the station of man! (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. > 219-220) > > God has given us prayers we can use when asking for His forgiveness: > > Behold me, then, O my God, how I have fled from myself unto Thee, and have > abandoned my own being that I may attain unto the splendors of the light of Thy > Being, and have forsaken all that keepeth me back from Thee, and maketh me > forgetful of Thee, in order that I may inhale the fragrances of Thy presence and Thy > remembrance. Behold how I have stepped upon the dust of the city of Thy > forgiveness and Thy bounty, and dwelt within the precincts of Thy transcendent > mercy, and have besought Thee, through the sovereignty of Him Who is Thy > Remembrance and Who hath appeared in the robe of Thy most pure and most > august Beauty, to send down, in the course of this year, upon Thy loved ones what > will enable them to dispense with any one except Thee, and will set them free to > recognize the evidences of Thy sovereign will and all-conquering purpose, in such > wise that they will seek only what Thou didst wish for them through Thy bidding, and > will desire naught except what Thou didst desire for them through Thy will. Sanctify, > then, their eyes, O my God, that they may behold the light of Thy Beauty, and purge > their ears, that they may listen to the melodies of the Dove of Thy transcendent > oneness. Flood, then, their hearts with the wonders of Thy love, and preserve their > tongues from mentioning any one save Thee, and guard their faces from turning to > aught else except Thyself. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou, verily, > art the Almighty, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and > Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 335) > > Cast, then, upon me, O my God, the glances of Thy mercy, and forgive me my > trespasses and the trespasses of them that are dear to Thee, and which come in > between us and the revelation of Thy triumph and Thy grace. Cancel Thou, > moreover, our sins which have shut off our faces from the splendors of the Day-Star > of Thy favors. Powerful art Thou to do Thy pleasure. Thou ordainest what Thou > willest, and art not asked of what Thou wishest through the power of Thy > sovereignty, nor canst Thou be frustrated in whatsoever Thou prescribest through > Thine irrevocable decree. No God is there save Thee, the Almighty, the Most > Powerful, the Ever-living, the Most Compassionate. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and > Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 337) > > O God, my God! Have mercy then upon my helpless state, my poverty, my misery, > my abasement! Give me to drink from the generous cup of Thy grace and > forgiveness, stir me with the sweet scents of Thy love, gladden my bosom with the > light of Thy knowledge, purify my soul with the mysteries of Thy oneness, raise me > to life with the gentle breeze that cometh from the gardens of Thy mercy -- till I > sever myself from all else but Thee, and lay hold of the hem of Thy garment of > grandeur, and consign to oblivion all that is not Thee, and be companioned by the > sweet breathings that waft during these Thy days, and attain unto faithfulness at Thy > Threshold of Holiness, and arise to serve Thy Cause, and to be humble before Thy > loved ones, and, in the presence of Thy favoured ones, to be nothingness itself. > Verily art Thou the Helper, the Sustainer, the Exalted, the Most Generous. (‘Abdu’l- > Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 4-5) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 107 > > O Thou forgiving Lord! Thou art the shelter of all these Thy servants. Thou knowest > the secrets and art aware of all things. We are all helpless, and Thou art the Mighty, > the Omnipotent. We are all sinners, and Thou art the Forgiver of sins, the Merciful, > the Compassionate. O Lord! Look not at our shortcomings. Deal with us according to > Thy grace and bounty. Our shortcomings are many, but the ocean of Thy forgiveness > is boundless. Our weakness is grievous, but the evidences of Thine aid and > assistance are clear. Therefore, confirm and strengthen us. Enable us to do that > which is worthy of Thy holy Threshold. Illumine our hearts, grant us discerning eyes > and attentive ears. Resuscitate the dead and heal the sick. Bestow wealth upon the > poor and give peace and security to the fearful. Accept us in Thy kingdom and > illumine us with the light of guidance. Thou art the Powerful and the Omnipotent. > Thou art the Generous. Thou art the Clement. Thou art the Kind. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The > Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 176) > > I beg of God to forgive thy sins and to illumine thy face with the light of forgiveness, > so that thou mayest conquer the self which desires the earthly world and prevent it > from its wishes and appetites. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 80) > > And here’s an easy mantra we can memorize and repeat often: > > Forgive me, O my Lord, my sins which have hindered me from walking in the ways of > Thy good-pleasure, and from attaining the shores of the ocean of Thy oneness. > (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 29) > > Be not despondent! We are free from sin. He’s already forgiven you and now it’s time to > forgive yourself and move on! > > We have attired his temple with the robe of forgiveness and adorned his head with > the crown of pardon. It beseemeth him to pride himself among all men upon this > resplendent, this radiant and manifest bounty. Say: Be not despondent. After the > revelation of this blessed verse it is as though thou hast been born anew from thy > mother’s womb. Say: Thou art free from sin and error. Truly God hath purged thee > with the living waters of His utterance in His Most Great Prison. We entreat Him— > blessed and exalted is He—to graciously confirm thee in extolling Him and in > magnifying His glory and to strengthen thee through the power of His invisible hosts. > Verily, He is the Almighty, the Omnipotent. (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. > 77) > > Expecting others to ask you for > Forgiveness > It’s entirely possible that the person who committed the sin is unwilling to ask for > forgiveness. In any case, they are required to confess it and ask for God’s forgiveness, not > man’s. > > The sinner, when in a state wherein he finds himself free and severed from all else > save God, must beg for forgiveness and pardon (from God). It is not allowable to > declare one's sins and transgressions before any man, inasmuch as this has not been, > nor is conducive to securing God's forgiveness and pardon. At the same time such > confession before the creatures leads to one's humiliation and abasement, and God -- > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 108 > > exalted is His glory! -- does not wish for the humiliation of His servants. Verily He is > compassionate and beneficent! A sinner must, between himself and God, beseech > mercy from the Sea of Mercy and ask forgiveness from the Heaven of Beneficence. > (Bahá'u'lláh, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 142) > > They may even have passed on to the next world, and you are unable to talk to them about > the impact their sin has had on you. It’s still important to forgive. > > As the spirit of man after putting off this material form has an everlasting life, > certainly any existing being is capable of making progress; therefore it is permitted to > ask for advancement, forgiveness, mercy, beneficence, and blessings for a man after > his death, because existence is capable of progression. That is why in the prayers of > Bahá'u'lláh forgiveness and remission of sins are asked for those who have died. > (Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith, p. 329) > > Getting out of Unsafe Situations > When the offense is ongoing, for example where there is ongoing abuse or violence of any > kind, you will need to get to a place of safety before starting the process of forgiveness. > > Sometimes people are a little confused about the Christian teaching to “turn the other > cheek.” ‘Abdu'l-Bahá tells us: > > Then what Christ meant by forgiveness and pardon is not that, when nations attack > you, burn your homes, plunder your goods, assault your wives, children and relatives, > and violate your honour, you should be submissive in the presence of these tyrannical > foes and allow then to perform all their cruelties and oppressions. No, the words of > Christ refer to the conduct of two individuals toward each other. If one person > assaults another, the injured one should forgive him. But the communities must > protect the rights of man. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, pp. 270-271) > It’s important to speak out to the Assemblies who can provide guidance: > This motivation [to change] is often propelled by the courage of those who report the > offence, even in the face of the possibility of temporarily increasing the danger to the > victim. Allowing the situation to continue, by silence, may very well be the greater > evil. (National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada, Canadian Bahá'í News, > Kalimát, B.E. 150, p. 44) > > A brief note on justice: > There is a difference between justice and forgiveness. We all have to meet our Maker and > justice is in the hands of God. > > Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, > unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy > deeds. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words 31) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 109 > > He promises He notices everyone’s sins: > > Think not the secrets of hearts are hidden, nay, know ye of a certainty that in clear > characters they are engraved and are openly manifest in the holy Presence. > (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words 59) > > Verily I say, whatsoever ye have concealed within your hearts is to Us open and > manifest as the day; but that it is hidden is of Our grace and favor, and not of your > deserving. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words 60) > > Know, verily, that while the radiant dawn breaketh above the horizon of eternal > holiness, the satanic secrets and deeds done in the gloom of night shall be laid bare > and manifest before the peoples of the world. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words > 67) > > He’s promised to never forgive another man’s injustice: > > I have pledged Myself not to forgive any man's injustice. This is My covenant which I > have irrevocably decreed in the preserved tablet and sealed with My seal. > (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words) > > Justice is also in the hands of the institutions: > > . . . the Universal House of Justice underscores the responsibility of the Institutions of > the Faith in unequivocal language: “It is inevitable that this community will, at times, > be subject to delinquent behaviour of members whose actions do not conform to the > standards of the Teachings. At such times, the institutions of the Faith will not hesitate > to apply Bahá'í law with justice and fairness in full confidence that this Divine Law is > the means for the true happiness of all concerned. (From a letter written on behalf of > the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, 24 January, 1993) > > Forgiveness is in the hands of the individual. It’s important that we not get the two mixed > up: > > It should be realized that there is a distinction drawn in the Faith between the > attitudes which should characterize individuals in their relationship to other people, > namely, loving forgiveness, forbearance, and concern with one's own sins, not the sins > of others, and those attitudes which should be shown by the Spiritual Assemblies, > whose duty is to administer the law of God with Justice. (Universal House of Justice, > Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1968-1973, p. 110) > > There’s a big temptation to focus on the injustices, to want to bring “the other guy” to > justice, but this is not our job. > > The Writings tell us that: > We are all sinners. (Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 176) > Knowing ourselves is our responsibility and a full time job. Baha'u'llah tells us: > > “The first Taráz and the first effulgence which hath dawned from the horizon of the > Mother Book is that man should know his own self and recognize that which leadeth > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 110 > > unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or abasement, wealth or poverty . . .” (Baha'u'llah, > Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 34-35) > > So we are to focus all of our attention on ourselves, and to not even breathe the sins of > others: > Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner. Shouldst thou > transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness. > (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words 27) > Each of us is responsible to God for our own lives; and none of us is perfect. Catching our > own sins and asking God for forgive us requires all of our attention: > Each of us is responsible for one life only, and that is our own. Each of us is > immeasurably far from being "perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect: and the task > of perfecting our own life and character is one that requires all our attention, our > will-power and energy... On no subject are the Bahá'í teachings > more emphatic that on the necessity to abstain from fault-finding, while being ever > eager to discover and root out our own faults and overcome our own failings.” > (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 90) > > So it’s not appropriate to look to the abuser and focus on what they did to us, but to focus > all of our energy on perfecting our own souls and looking after our own spiritual > development. Shoghi Effendi succinctly tells us what happens when we focus on the sins of > others: > > If we allow our attention and energy to be taken up in efforts to keep others right > and remedy their faults, we are wasting precious time. We are like ploughmen each > of whom has his team to manage and his plough to direct, and in order to keep his > furrow straight he must keep his eye on his goal and concentrate on his own task. If > he looks to this side and that to see how Tom and Harry are getting on and to > criticize their ploughing, then his own furrow will assuredly become crooked. > (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 92) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 111 > > Overcoming Fear with Faith > What is faith? > > Ruhiyyih Khanum describes it this way: > > THIS IS FAITH > by Amatu'l-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum > > To walk where there is no path > To breathe where there is no air > To see where there is not light- > This is Faith. > > To cry out in the silence, > The silence of the night, > And hearing no echo believe > And believe again and again- > This is Faith. > > To hold pebbles and see jewels > To raise sticks and see forests > To smile with weeping eyes- > This is Faith. > > To say: "God, I believe" when others deny, > "I hear" when there is no answer, > "I see" though naught is seen- > This is Faith. > > And the fierce love in the heart, > The savage love that cries > Hidden Thou art yet there ! > Veil Thy face and mute Thy tongue > yet I see and hear Thee, Love, > Beat me down to the bare earth, > Yet I rise and love Thee, Love !" > This is Faith. > > Faith and fear are both belief systems. You have to choose which one you’re going to > follow. You cannot defeat fear without faith. > > God wants us to have faith in Him in all things. Nothing is more important. > > No matter what happens, nothing is as important as our feeling of trust in God, our > inner peacefulness and faith that all, in the end, in spite of the severity of the ordeals > we may pass through will come out as Bahá'u'lláh has promised. (Shoghi Effendi, > Lights of Guidance, p. 237) > > The words of God will defeat fear (which is the work of our lower nature) and give us faith in > God's plan for us. Faith is one of God's attributes, which He's already bestowed on us. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 112 > > Faith is walking with God as far as we know how to walk and then taking the next step into > the black oblivion, and then keep on walking. We don't know what's next so we keep on > going because He tells us: > > As ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i > Scriptures, p. 504) > > All healing comes from the Word of God but we just can't acquire faith simply by reading > the Word of God. > > 1. We have to trust the One who wrote it > 2. We have to trust His words > 3. We have to act on them. > > This is an important three-part process. > > When I first became a Baha'i, I somehow managed to accomplish the first two but ever > since then I've been picking and choosing which Writings to act on: the easy ones. I was > like a child stuffing myself with candy and relishing every mouthful so I didn’t have room for > the whole meal. > > Our hopes are what motivate us, because that is what faith is. We hope to be freed from > anxiety, we accept Baha'u'llah’s authority, we immerse ourselves in His words and then we > act on them in faith. The process draws us closer to God, because nowhere else will you > find this approach to healing anxiety. You have to try it in faith, trusting God’s authority. > > Fear > > Fear produces an emotion and feeling that we think is real but they are just emanations of > our lower nature. We could also call them veils between us and God, or sin. > > God gave us emotions to enhance our lives. The emotion of fear was intended to alert us to > real danger so our bodies can activate the fight or flight response. When a person panics, > their cerebral cortex sends signals to the hypothalamus gland—the brain of the endocrine > system. It in turn sends out impulses and chemicals that make the body respond with a > faster heartbeat, slower metabolism, an adrenaline rush, dry mouth, shaking knees, etc. > This “fight or flight” reaction normally lasts only a few minutes. However, when a person is > in bondage to fear, when stress and anxiety are a way of life, their body is going to stay > stuck in this reaction. > > Many of us live lives ruled by another kind of fear that comes from an imagined enemy, and > this was not given to us by God. This fear is not the fight or flight God created us with but > an aberration. It does not warn us or protect us, but instead brings about our destruction > because we put our faith in the wrong thing. We weren’t wired to remain in constant “fight > or flight,” and many serious illnesses are the result of the body being on constant high alert. > > Faith and fear are both belief systems starting in our imagination. Both project into the > future and both demand to be fulfilled. If we’re going to use it to imagine the worst, why > not use it to imagine the best? > > You have no guarantee that the object of your faith will ever happen or that the object of > your fear will ever happen. We're giving more faith to what we fear than what we should > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 113 > > believe in (that God has a plan and His plan is better for us than anything we could > conceive). > > Imagination is the link between fear and faith. One comes from God and the other comes > from the imagination of a darkened soul: > > Knowledge is divided into two kinds: - divine knowledge and satanic knowledge. One > appears from the inspiration of the Ideal King; the other emanates from the > imaginations of darkened souls. (Bahá'u'lláh, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 23) > > Fear and anxiety always project into the future, and they focus on something specific, > perhaps a person or thing in our environment. It’s true that imagination is a quality of the > soul, but 'Abdu'l-Baha makes a distinction between idle fancies and vain imaginations – one > has fruit and the other doesn’t. > > But many things come to the mind of man which are like the waves of the sea of > imaginations; they have no fruit, and no result comes from them. (Abdu'l-Baha, > Some Answered Questions, p. 252) > > Fear is not real, though. It’s just our lower nature at work. Once you understand that and > separate yourself from fear, your quality of life will greatly improve. > > Baha'u'llah doesn’t want us to make fear our god: > > O My brother! Forsake thine own desires, turn thy face unto thy Lord, and walk not in > the footsteps of those who have taken their corrupt inclinations for their god, that > perchance thou mayest find shelter in the heart of existence, beneath the redeeming > shadow of Him Who traineth all names and attributes. (Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine > Mysteries, p. 48-49) > > Take heed lest thou cling to the cord of idle fancy and withhold thyself from that which > hath been ordained in the Kingdom of God, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful. > (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 62) > > God asks us to have faith in Him, and to fear Him and nothing else: > > Fear ye God and follow not your idle fancies and corrupt imaginings, but rather follow > Him Who is come unto you invested with undeniable knowledge and unshakeable > certitude. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 61) > > When we don’t, we’re guilty of sin. > > Fear is a lack of trust in God. It makes us sinners because God told us not to fear. If he > tells us not to have fear and we do, it’s a sin, even though we might not want to think of it > that way. > > How do the Writings link sin and fear? > > Wash away, then, my sins, O my God, by Thy grace and bounty, and reckon me > among such as are not overtaken by fear nor put to grief. Thou art, verily, the > Almighty, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations > by Baha'u'llah, p. 212) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 114 > > Before the throne of Thy oneness, amid the blaze of the beauty of Thy countenance, > cause me to abide, for fear and trembling have violently crushed me. Beneath the > ocean of Thy forgiveness, faced with the restlessness of the leviathan of glory, > immerse me, for my sins have utterly doomed me. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and > Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 234) > > God wants us to quaff from His teachings and not from the god of our idle fancies and vain > imaginations: > > Cleanse them, then, O my God, from all idle fancies and vain imaginations, that they > may inhale the fragrances of sanctity from the robe of Thy Revelation and Thy > commandment. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 307) > > He wants us to secure His good pleasure, but we can’t do it if we have faith in the wrong > thing: > > The object of thy belief in God is but to secure His good-pleasure. How then dost thou > seek as a proof of thy faith a thing which hath been and is contrary to His good- > pleasure? (The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 122) > > It’s important that we understand that choosing to hold on to fear is sin. 'Abdu’l-Bahá tells > us that loss of faith is blameworthy because the soul is then overwhelmed by desires and > passions, and man will become a source of imperfections, for which he is held responsible. > > The differences among mankind are of two sorts: one is a difference of station, and > this difference is not blameworthy. The other is a difference of faith and assurance; > the loss of these is blameworthy, for then the soul is overwhelmed by his desires and > passions, which deprive him of these blessings and prevent him from feeling the > power of attraction of the love of God. Though that man is praiseworthy and > acceptable in his station, yet as he is deprived of the perfections of that degree, he > will become a source of imperfections, for which he is held responsible. (Abdu'l-Bahá, > Some Answered Questions, p. 130) > > Nonetheless, most of us seem to learn by doing, and learn from our mistakes, and in this > God is reassuring. He tell us we are all sinners, so we shouldn’t be afraid of the word, or > the label. It’s just the reality of our life and everyone else’s too. > > We are all sinners, and Thou art the Forgiver of sins, the Merciful, the Compassionate. > (Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 176) > > In the Tablet of Ahmad, it says "the wisdom of every command shall be tested" so how can > we test the wisdom of God’s command if we don't sin (make mistakes, fall short)? > > Since the purpose of our lives is to know and love God, everything that happens to us is > uniquely designed to bring us to this place. We sin and feel the consequences so that we > can recognize it, turn to God and ask His forgiveness. This is where faith comes in. > > Without faith, we’re bereft of all powers and blessings: > > And now I give you a commandment that shall be for a covenant between you and me > - that ye have faith; that your faith be steadfast as a rock that no earthly storms can > move, that nothing can disturb, and that it endure through all things even to the end . > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 115 > > . . As ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be. This is the balance - this is > the balance - this is the balance. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Readings, p. 313) > > What you fear is headed your way because it’s a form of faith, but it’s not God’s faith. It’s > the faith in our lower nature and it has the power to overthrow God’s faith in our lives. > > Fear is a lack of trust, and it says: > > “God, you need help. You’re not doing things fast enough. You’re not answering the > way I need you to answer. I wonder if you’re going to answer at all?” > > We may not be saying this in words but that’s what’s happening inside. > > Fear is a form of insanity because it reminds you of what you are not; of what you don't > have and of all the things in your life that you did wrong or failed to do. These thoughts get > onto a hamster wheel that goes round and round, tormenting you for years! > > Peace comes from God; fear comes from not believing God's word and trusting it. We don't > have to be afraid. God loves us. He brought us to whatever is in front of us today, and He > will bring us through it. He promises that victory always follows crisis. > > [Life] brings each one of us crises as well as victories. Our own lives and even the > lives of the central Figures of the Faith have been fraught with agony as well as > blessing, with failure and frustration and grief, as frequently as with progress. This is > the nature of life. (Universal House of Justice, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 117) > > It may take years and needs lots of patience. It’s important for us to see the end in the > beginning, so we can hold on to our faith. > > Look ye not upon the present, fix your gaze upon the times to come. In the > beginning, how small is the seed, yet in the end it is a mighty tree. Look ye not upon > the seed, look ye upon the tree, and its blossoms and its leaves and its fruits. > ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections, 40.3, p. 87) > > If Fear is a form of faith and you believe what Fear says and not what God says, then > according to your Fear-faith so be it unto you. Both are demanding to be fulfilled. > > Yesterday's projected fear is here today. Today I have blessings and troubles from > yesterday's beliefs. What I'm feeling today is being projected onto tomorrow could be > fulfilled. > > Man must not imagine disease but must ever trust God. Anyway, a man’s life here in > this world is temporary. He is in a world that is like a house, susceptible to every > invasion, and God must protect man—man must be submissive to God. He must not > occupy himself with things—imaginings. If a man thinks too much of his health, he will > become afflicted. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Throne of the Inner Temple, p 22) > > Is this truly what you want to have faith for? > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá suggests it’s wise to avoid this kind of “fate”. > > But conditional fate may be likened to this: while there is still oil, a violent wind blows > on the lamp, which extinguishes it. This is a conditional fate. It is wise to avoid it, to > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 116 > > protect oneself from it, to be cautious and circumspect. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some > Answered Questions, p.244) > > How then do we acquire faith? In the Covenant of Baha'u'llah, Adib Taherzideh gives us > some clues. > > To achieve this exalted goal man needs to recognize the station of Bahá'u'lláh as the > Manifestation of God for this age and then observe His commandments with clear > vision, mature reflection and a prayerful attitude. This can be achieved through > deepening one's knowledge of the Faith and in serving His Cause. It is then that the > heart will become the recipient of the knowledge of God, and will attain certitude in its > faith. It is then that obedience to the teachings of the Faith becomes wholehearted, as > the individual grasps the significance of God's commandments, and comes to > understand their wisdom, their excellence and their necessity. It is then that his > thoughts, his vision, his aspirations, his words, and his deeds will all be in harmony > with the Covenant of God. And it is then that his soul will acquire spiritual qualities > and virtues. This is the ultimate outcome of obedience to the Covenant, which will > enable the soul to progress in the spiritual worlds of God. (Adib Taherzadeh, The > Covenant of Baha'u'llah, p. 28) > > To acquire faith man must cast out the 'stranger' from his heart. To the extent that he > succeeds in doing this, he will acquire faith. Once the spark of faith is ignited within > the heart it must be allowed to grow steadily into a flame, otherwise it could die > because of attachment to this world. (Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah > v 2, p. 217-218) > > Faith comes to a man through submission to God. The surrendering of the self with all > its accomplishments renders the soul free of attachment to this mortal world. It drives > the 'stranger' away from the heart and enables him to receive the 'Friend' within its > sanctuary. Bahá'u'lláh states: O Son of Man! Humble thyself before Me, that I may > graciously visit thee... In another passage He reveals: O Son of Man! > If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou seekest My pleasure, regard not > thine own; that thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee. (Adib > Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 2, p. 220) > > To sum up these quotes, we need to: > >  recognize the station of Bahá'u'lláh as the Manifestation of God for this age >  observe His commandments with clear vision, mature reflection and a prayerful > attitude. >  deepen one's knowledge of the Faith >  serve His Cause. >  cast out the 'stranger' from his heart. >  allow the spark of faith to grow steadily into a flame >  submission to God >  surrendering of the self with all its accomplishments > > It’s possible to have fear disguised as faith. > > Have you ever heard a voice that sounds like it's coming from God because it comes from > the Writings? Be careful, because it could be your lower nature trying to trick you! It's a > kind of fear-based faith; a counterfeit faith. It's dangerous because it doesn't come out of > real believing, but out of a fear need. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 117 > > ‘Abdu'l-Bahá tells us to shun any person who quotes the Heavenly Utterances but is the > emanation of hatred. > > It is incumbent upon all the friends of God to shun any person in whom they perceive > the emanation of hatred for the Glorious Beauty of Bahá, though he may quote all > the Heavenly Utterances and cling to all the Books.” He continues— “Glorious be His > Name!—“Protect yourselves with utmost vigilance, lest you be entrapped in the snare > of deception and fraud.” This is the advice of the Pen of Destiny. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, > Bahá’í World Faith, p. 430-431) > > Sometimes that means we have to shun ourselves, if the Writings being quoted are used > out of self-hatred; and to punish. > > For example: I suffer from the addiction of perfectionism. My life so far has been so full of > misery that I want to do everything in my power to ensure that the next life is better than > this one. Much of what I’ve done in the past to follow every single law and injunction has > been for the wrong reasons. It’s come out of fear of God’s punishment; that if I don’t do it > all and do it right, I will be making the next world just as bad, or worse than this one. As > you can imagine, this hasn’t been much fun! > > For years I was listening to the wrong Writings and using them to beat myself up, in the > name of “calling myself to account”. The abuse I was perpetrating on myself was far worse > than anything anyone else had ever done to me! > > The messages that I heard were that it was important to get off of disability and "earn my > livelihood by my calling", otherwise my life would “not bring forth fruit” and therefore only > be “fit for the fire”. > > Can you see how punitive this voice was? Even though these quotes can all be found in the > Writings, I was taking the wrong “remedy” and wondering why I was getting sicker. > > One way to know if a voice is coming from your lower nature or from God is to ask yourself > whether it’s loving or condemning. God’s voice is always loving. The voices I was listening > to were definitely condemning! > > I now know that God has another plan for me. Now I trust that my job is to be of service > and His job is to look after the money. I’m a lot less stressed, knowing He’s forgiven me > and in His mercy, He’s kept me out of a workforce I’m not equipped to handle. > > Here’s another example: > > Fear took me all over North America looking for healing, in the name of faith. I was praying > for healing and it wasn't happening the way I thought it should, so I went from healer to > healer trying to find the right one for me. It says in the Baha'i Writings that we are to find > the best healer even if we have to go to another city to find one so at one point I even went > to Hawaii to work with a Baha'i healer there. I believed that God was being faithful to his > word, because suddenly the money appeared so I could go. That's what fear was doing to > me. I wanted to get healed but I didn't know that my need was driven by fear. If you’d told > me I would've denied it. This was not God’s will at all, since I was putting my faith in the > healer and not in the “Divine Physician” and His “Divine Remedy.” By sharing these > teachings with you, I hope you’ll know where and how to look for and apply the right > “remedy” for your anxiety! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 118 > > Conclusion: > > Every time we turn from fear to faith, we can hear 'Abdu’l-Bahá cheering us on: > > Thy letter was like a perfumed nosegay and from that nosegay the fragrance of faith > and assurance was inhaled. Well done! Well done! that thou hast turned thy face > toward the invisible Kingdom. Excellent! Excellent that thou art attracted to the Beauty > of His Highness the Almighty! Well done! Well done! How happy thou art that thou > hast attained to this Most Great Gift! (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v3, p. 530) > > Doubt > When we first become Bahá’ís, there are often things in the Writings which we find difficult. > Striving to learn and understand is a gradual process, requiring wisdom: > > Since we are all imperfect and have to learn the perfect standard which Bahá'u'lláh > has unveiled, there are often things in the Teachings themselves which individual > believers find difficult, and which they have to strive to learn and understand. All the > believers are growing and this is a gradual process. Each one, as you say, must > develop wisdom, and with this must realize the fundamental importance of the unity of > the community and the bond of love and affection among the believers, for the sake of > which he will sacrifice many things. ... (The Universal House of Justice, Messages > 1963 to 1986, p. 631) > > God has asked us not to doubt by following our idle fancy, but to give in to whatever proof > God has given us: > > If thou dost ponder a while, it will be evident that it is incumbent upon a lowly servant > to acquiesce to whatever proof God hath appointed, and not to follow his own idle > fancy. (The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 122) > > He wants the doubters to rise above their doubts: > > Let the doubter arise, and himself verify the truth of such assertions. (Shoghi Effendi, > Messages to America, p. 17) > > When our hearts turn to God, He’ll open our eyes so we can recognize His truth and no > longer need arguments and proofs. > > And when the heart is turned unto the Sun, then the eye will be opened and will > recognize the Sun through the Sun itself. Then man will be in no need of arguments > (or proofs), for the Sun is altogether independent, and absolute independence is in > need of nothing, and proofs are one of the things of which absolute independence has > no need. Be not like Thomas; be thou like Peter. I hope you will be healed physically, > mentally and spiritually. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith, p. 383-384) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 119 > > Doubts are dispelled by reading the Writings: > > We are certain that when you share this letter with the friends and they have these > quotations from the Scriptures and the Writings of the Guardian drawn to their > attention, their doubts and misgivings will be dispelled and they will be able to devote > their every effort to spreading the Message of Bahá'u'lláh, serenely confident in the > power of His Covenant to overcome whatever tests an inscrutable Providence may > shower upon it, thus demonstrating its ability to redeem a travailing world and to > upraise the Standard of the Kingdom of God on earth. (Shoghi Effendi, Wellspring of > Guidance, p. 44-56) > > The only remedy for our doubt is to admit we might be wrong; that Bahá'u'lláh’s knowledge > is from God and be willing to surrender his feelings and thoughts to Him. The very act of > submission opens our hearts and allows true knowledge to come in, so that every trace of > conflict will disappear: > > The only remedy for the individual who still has a glimmer of faith in his heart, but > who has doubts about the Cause, is to admit that he may be wrong in his assessment > of the teachings of the Faith, to affirm that Bahá'u'lláh's knowledge is of God, and to > surrender his feelings and thoughts completely to Him. Once he submits himself in this > way and perseveres in doing so with sincerity and truthfulness, the channels of the > grace of God open and his heart becomes the recipient of the light of true knowledge. > He will discover, some time in his life, either by intuition or through prayer and > meditation, the answer to all his problems and objections. Every trace of conflict will > disappear from his mind. He will readily understand the reasons behind those very > teachings which previously baffled his intellect, and will find many mysteries enshrined > in the utterances of Bahá'u'lláh, mysteries of which he was completely unaware in > earlier days. (Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 2, p. 218-219) > > Now that we’ve got a taste of what the Writings say about doubt, let’s look at how it relates > to fear. > > Doubt is really behind anxiety and fear – we might think we’ve accepted God’s love in our > lives; we might think that we trust that He has a plan for us; but if we’re feeling anxious > about the future, it’s because we doubt that He will really be there for us, opening the doors > and paving the way. We believe in God, but we doubt that He will provide for us or give us > what we need tomorrow. > > How much do we really have faith and trust in God’s bounties in our lives? > > One minute we think we might trust God, and the other, we take matters into our own > hands because we don’t think He heard us; or that He is able to intervene. For example, > maybe you’re having some trouble in the area of money. Perhaps 60% of you trusts that > God will provide and 40% doubts you’ll be able to meet your expenses next month. > > In another part of your life, you’re worried about your children. Will you be able to do a > good job as a parent? Will you be able to protect them from the tests of this world? Maybe > you only trust God with 20% of that and think you have to do the other 80%. > > Or what about forgiveness? Do you believe that God has forgiven you for mistakes you’ve > made in the past? Maybe you’ve just come back from feast; or heard a beautiful prayer > chanted and you believe about 70% that God loves you and has forgiven you, and 30% that > you’re going straight to hell. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 120 > > Other areas you might doubt God’s presence is in your marriage, career path, job, health, > finding purpose of fulfillment in life; bitterness over what someone else has done to you. > Maybe you know what the next step you need to take in life is; but you doubt that God will > meet you there. > > So life is going along, and you sort of trust God on all levels, until something bad happens. > Perhaps you lose your job, and all of a sudden your trust level with God plummets down to > 2% as you believe that your financial future is in your hands and not God’s. You become > worried, and obsessed about what to do next, absolutely forgetting to trust God. Now your > belief that God loves you has also plummeted because why would He cause you to lose your > job if He loves you? > > Every day the gauges of trust in God’s ability to provide for us in every area of our lives > goes up and down with the changes and chances of this world. Sometimes they all go down > to 2% trust in God at the same time, and that isn’t enough to hold us through the test. > This is what brings us to a crisis of faith. Everything we’ve built our life on in terms of trust > in God goes down at once, and we’re on shaky ground regarding our faith. > > Doubt is a normal part of our spiritual journey. It’s one of the tests God sends us for the > perfection of our souls, so when you’re faced with it, don’t freak out; don’t feel there’s > anything wrong with you. > > God wants us to trust Him, to have faith that he will provide us with everything we need, > but He doesn’t expect that it will be 100% in all areas of our lives, all the time. Jesus said > that all it would take to move a mountain was to have the faith as small as a mustard seed. > > If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove > hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto > you.' (Matt. xvii. 20.) > > God understands how hard it is for us to trust a God we can’t see. He asks us to be > merciful to those who doubt. > > The more clarity you have in terms of your own doubt, the easier it is to face it head-on. > Like everything in our lower natures, it doesn’t like to be brought out into the light of day. > It often disguises itself as a nagging doubt, worry, anxiety, fear that something bad is going > to happen, guilt, workaholism, pessimism, obsessive behaviour, a need for control. > Underneath it all is a doubt that God is going to do what he says He’s going to do. > > A belief that tomorrow is going to be worse robs us of our joy, and prevents us from living > in and enjoying the present. > > Once we bring it to the surface, we have a choice and can better face it. > > Every doubt you can name is an opportunity to exercise faith. > > Doubt is opposite to faith; not the enemy of faith – it’s the tool God uses for our growth. > > You can go to the gym and look at all the equipment as your enemy and see it as too hard; > you will never be able to get healthy. It’s the same with doubt. Without doubt, your faith is > never going to grow. We have to face each doubt as it comes along or we’re never going to > grow. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 121 > > We never get to the point where we’ve conquered doubt entirely. We conquer one and > there’s another we need to work on; just like when we master a certain weight, we need to > move on to the next level. We can’t just go to the gym for a few weeks and we’re strong > for the rest of our lives. We have to keep exercising those muscles or they will atrophy. > > God asks us to trust him a little more every day so our trust will grow. We need tests to > help grow our faith. Our faith is the core of our relationship with God; without it, we can > never grow closer to God. > > Like everything in the faith; we seem to need opposites (were it not for the cold . . . ) > > You can’t will yourself to trust God, any more than you can will yourself to trust another > human being. Our faith grows the more we get to know Him, just as it does with other > humans, by seeing his trustworthiness over time. > > There are only 2 things we have control over – our thoughts and our actions. Most of us > have developed mental patterns over time including our struggle with faith and doubt. If > 40% of us trust God’s ability to take care of us and 60% don’t; we have a choice about > which we’re going to be. We can turn our mind, thoughts and attention towards trusting > God or we can trust the voice of our lower nature which says we can only trust ourselves. > > Make a list of all the ways God has come through for you in the past, to help you focus on > believing he will continue to do so in the present and future. > > Daily reading of the Writings and memorizing passages will help us remember to trust God. > It helps us remember that God is who he says he is; and therefore we can trust Him. > > Sometimes we need to lean on the faith of others. Perhaps we’ve never seen evidence of > God working in a particular way in our lives, but we might have a friend who did; and we > can trust that maybe if God was working in their lives; He could be working in ours too. > > Once we know the areas in which we don’t trust God; we can ignore it, and focus on turning > our attention to all the ways in which we can and do, so that our trust can grow so big > there’s no room for doubt. > > You don’t have to trust God 100% in order to act as if you did. Even if you only trust God > 1%, you still have a choice to act as if you trusted him 100% - In the 5 Steps of Prayer we > learn to act as if it had all been answered. That’s how we grow. We see God come through, > so we can trust him more. > > Fear is doubt in disguise. > > Sometimes we have such high levels of doubt that we don’t even have a grain of mustard > seed of faith. Ask God to give you a sign. God is merciful. He wants us to have faith. He > stands ready to answer whatever we pray for. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 122 > > Overcoming Fear with Patience: > God is always there to help, even though it seems to take time. Fear won't let you wait. It > demands that you get well now or get back down under it. Don't give up because the battle > takes too long. Keep reminding yourself that: > > He, verily, rewardeth beyond measure them that endure with patience. (Baha'u'llah, > Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 71) > > The sign of love is fortitude under My decree and patience under My trials. > (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words 48) > > God, verily, loveth those women and men who show forth patience. (Baha'u'llah, The > Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 43) > > Ours is the duty to remain patient in these circumstances until relief be forthcoming > from God, the Forgiving, the Bountiful. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. > 177) > > We might find ourselves saying things like: > >  I hope that's not true. >  I hope I'm getting better. >  I don’t want to wait. >  I want God to heal me now and if He doesn’t, I’ll look somewhere else for relief. >  What good are prayers anyway? > > These are not good weapons against fear, because the statements themselves are fear and > doubt based. > > Perhaps you’ve read quotes like: > > O thou who art turning thy face towards God! Close thine eyes to all things else, and > open them to the realm of the All-Glorious. Ask whatsoever thou wishest of Him alone; > seek whatsoever thou seekest from Him alone. With a look He granteth a hundred > thousand hopes, with a glance He healeth a hundred thousand incurable ills, with a > nod He layeth balm on every wound, with a glimpse He freeth the hearts from the > shackles of grief. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 51) > > Forgetting the last two sentences: > > He doeth as He doeth, and what recourse have we? He carrieth out His Will, He > ordaineth what He pleaseth. Then better for thee to bow down thy head in submission, > and put thy trust in the All-Merciful Lord. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings > of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 51) > > Of course, God can do all these things, but sometimes the answer is no, and sometimes > there are other things which need to be put into practice first. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 123 > > If healing is right for the patient, it will certainly be granted; but for some ailing > persons, healing would only be the cause of other ills. And therefore wisdom doth not > permit an affirmative answer to the prayer. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the > Writings of 'Abdul-Bahá, p.161-162) > > Perhaps healing you from anxiety without teaching you the importance of immersing > yourself in the Writings, then helping you build the capacity for monitoring your thoughts, > turning to God and asking for forgiveness is much more important. All of these skills will > provide you with many more virtues, and will ensure the anxiety doesn’t come back. > Because anxiety is a sin, He can forgive us for it, but the work of repenting and making > amends is ours alone. > > Do you really think you'll go home and discover that healing from a lifetime of bad thinking > will change overnight? No! It's going to take a while to have your mind renewed. You aren’t > going to learn to understand and apply the word of God all at once. You can’t put what > you’re learning into practice all once. It’s a process and it takes time, and it can even seem > overwhelming at times. > > Fear will have you believe that you should be walking out of here free to harvest the new > learning, forgetting that I’m just planting seeds here, which then have to take hold, > germinate, flower and mature before you can harvest the fruits. Along the way there will be > a lot of weeding to do. Will you trust God to grow your health as you recover from anxiety? > > There is one season to harrow the ground, another season to scatter the seeds, still > another season to irrigate the fields and still another to harvest the crop. We must > attend to these various kinds of activities in their proper seasons in order to become > successful. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Consultation, p. 7) > > Have you ever grown a tomato plant? The average maturation age for the tomatoes is > between 55 days to 85 days. I'm watching my tomatoes grow right now and they're not > growing fast enough to suit me, but I'm confident that God will grow them up in due time, > and He will grow you up to. He wants you to grow and change so let's let God work with > you. > > God is already is working with you, but the voice of fear tries to prevent it. Fear will tell you > that if God really wanted you healed, you would be healed by now. God loves you and He > will heal you gently. Some of you will be healed just by reading this book. Some will be > healed before you started reading the book. Some of you after you finish the book. Some > will be healed in a few weeks. You can trust that whatever is best for you, God will do. You > might have a ton of allergies and one day you'll wake up and you won't have any. That's > how it works - all in God's time. > > Some people go from fear to faith faster than others because we all have different > capacities and backgrounds, so let's not compare ourselves to anybody. If we do, we invite > more emanations from lower nature. Don't let fear take away the right season for your > complete recovery. > > By taking this one step at a time, you're making new memories in your soul that will stay > with you. You have had plenty of years of fear. Now you're bringing every thought into > captivity and filling yourself up with the knowledge of God instead of the knowledge of your > lower nature. Someone once said “I read and I forget. I do and I remember". > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 124 > > How do you do that? By practicing and eventually you learn to follow your own thoughts > more and more until they become a way of life. You won't do it perfectly so don't expect to, > but what's important is that you're going to start and God will meet you and you will grow. > > You don't have to be perfect at getting get rid of fear in one go. Even taking three steps > forward and one step back, is still making progress. Don’t give up and get discouraged > when you find yourself slipping back. Be happy with that little step. One of these days > you'll take three steps forward and make it all the way into God's loving arms. > > Everything in nature has an ebb and a flow – the tides, the blood circulating in our body, > day followed by night, summer followed by winter . . . It’s only natural that your recovery > from anxiety will be like this too. > > The great and mighty ocean is powerless to change the ebb and flow of its tides -- > nothing can stand against nature's laws! (Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 122) > > Don't try reaching for it all in one day. Remember what Abdul-Bahá says: "little by little, > day by day". > > One would well remember the story of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who when approached by a > believer in the depths of discouragement despairing of ever acquiring the qualities and > virtues that Bahá’ís are required to possess, replied with the greatest compassion and > encouragement, “little by little; day by day” ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í World 12: 704) > > Many people don't want to wait for the right season. They want a quick fix now but God is > not going to let you go from fear to faith if you haven't dealt with the issues that are in > between. The things that are creating the fear have to be dealt with first. You have to deal > with the issues that created the fear in the first place. > > Unless the season of winter appear, thunder roll, lightning flash, snow and rain fall, > hail and frost descend and the intensity of cold execute its command, the season of > the soul-refreshing spring would not come, the fragrant breeze would not waft, the > moderation of temperature would not be realized, the roses and hyacinths would not > grow, the surface of the earth would not become a delectable paradise, the trees > would not bloom, neither would they bring forth fruits and leaves. That fierce > inclemency of cold, snow, frost and tempest was the beginning of the manifestation of > these roses, hyacinths, buds, blossoms and fruits. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l- > Bahá v3, p. 655) > > Before the coming of the spring, the earth looks as if dead and lifeless, but when it > appears, all the world seems to spring into life and brightness -- into a new existence > of beauty and joy. All nature is clad in fresh green, the grass springs up, the leaves > bud, and the trees are covered with blossoms. But the spring passes, and then comes > the summer, in which the promise of the spring is fulfilled; the spring blossoms ripen > into fruit, and the fields are covered with yellow grain; the result of the new life of the > spring is manifested. Then comes the autumn, in which the life of the spring and > summer begins slowly to fade, and finally winter comes round, and the life of the > earth seems to be completely extinct -- dead. (Compilations, Baha'i Prayers 9, p. 57) > > Nothing lasts forever! Even if your life has been crippled for many years by anxiety, it too > will pass, hopefully faster now that you have some tools to deal with it! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 125 > > ‘Abdul-Bahá promises us it won’t last forever and suggests we work while we’re waiting: > > The darkness of this gloomy night shall pass away. Again the Sun of Reality will dawn > from the horizon of the hearts. Have patience - wait, but do not sit idle; work while > you are waiting; smile while you are wearied with monotony. (’Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of > the West, Vol. 9, No. 13, p. 141). > > And the House of Justice also encourages us the same way, also telling us to keep going: > > These are the darkest hours before the break of day. Peace, as promised will come at > night’s end. Press on to meet the dawn. (Universal House of Justice, Ridván Message, > April 1993) > > Here are some additional spiritual principles to keep in mind: > > Remind yourself that you have the right to fail: > > A wide latitude for action must be allowed them, which means that a large margin > for mistakes must also be allowed. (Universal House of Justice, Unlocking the Power > of Action) > > Give it time: > > With each passing crisis in world affairs, it becomes easier for the citizen to > distinguish between a love of country that enriches one's life, and submission to > inflammatory rhetoric designed to provoke hatred and fear of others. (The Universal > House of Justice, 2002 April, To the World's Religious Leaders, p. 1) > > Look at the birds in the air – God takes care of all their needs, so He’ll take care of ours. > > No riches, wealth, comfort or ease of the material world is equal to the wealth of a > bird; all the areas of these plains and mountains are its dwelling, and all the seeds > and harvests are its food and wealth, and all the lands, villages, meadows, pastures, > forests and wildernesses are its possessions. Now, which is the richer, this bird, or > the most wealthy man? for no matter how many seeds it may take or bestow, its > wealth does not decrease. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 79) > > If God thinks a grassy field needs flowers, He’ll add colour and beauty. If God can dress a > field, He will surely dress us; and give us abundance. If he’s interested in making a field > beautiful, He’ll make our lives beautiful too. It takes time, though, so we’re back where we > started, with patience. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 126 > > Overcoming Fear with Courage > I was on a travel teaching trip to Nunavut, in Canada’s arctic and I had a dream about a > cougar, which symbolizes courage. Richard Hastings, > http://dreamsforpeace.wordpress.com/ a Bahá’í who analyzes dreams suggested in part: > > The cougar is a symbol of being courageous and independent. So you are trying to > take back your courage and independence. You can bring the cougar inside of you as > if you are a cougar. The exercise would be to bring the cougar inside as if you were a > cougar and then feel and see and hear what that is like, then use it. The goal is be a > cougar with pure intentions. When you can let go of physical concerns, bring the > resources inside of you and use them, then amazing things will happen. > > Since this was a virtue I was trying to cultivate, I thought I’d explore it and see what it > looked like. What follows is my personal reflection. > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá tells us: > > Take courage! (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 30) > > I realized that I don’t know much about courage, though I think my life has been a > courageous one in many ways, so I’m curious about what the Bahá’í Writings can shed on > this concept and invite you along on my exploration. > > The first quote that comes to mind is: > > The source of courage and power is the promotion of the Word of God, and > steadfastness in His Love. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 155) > > I have this one memorized but I realize now, that there are 2 parts to the quote: > >  Promotion of the word of God >  Steadfastness in His love > > This trip has not been one of teaching, curiously enough, given that I’m on a travel teaching > trip! Instead it’s been one of learning about love. > > Before coming here, I was feeling unloved, unloveable and pretty sorry for myself! Single, > alone and lonely! God had systematically removed every significant relationship from my > life through estrangement and divorce (parents, siblings, spouse, significant others and > son). Nothing I did to try to bring unity back into these relationships seemed to matter. > > Since everything I read suggested we need relationships to heal, and I didn’t have any, I > asked God to show me I was loved and loveable. And look what He did for me! He brought > me to Rankin Inlet, in the middle of a polar desert, to show me how much I’m loved! > > He’s used relationships with Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í friends and acquaintances around the > globe, who follow my adventure on Facebook and on my blog, to prove my worth! Every > day people call to pray with me; send words of encouragement through phone, email and > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 127 > > Facebook; and send presents to meet my most basic of needs for warmth and vision – the > physical mirroring the spiritual! It's amazing, awe-inspiring, humbling and I am grateful! > > Since coming here, there are many ways God shows me I’m loved every day; which helps > me trust His love so I can stay steadfast in it, which is one source of courage I’m working > on, and it’s unfolding easily and effortlessly and I am grateful! > > The first part of the quote is much harder! Much, much harder! > > Although on the one hand, there are many ways to teach the Faith, and I’m doing a lot, it > never feels like it’s enough of the right kinds of teaching. I can be really quick to judge > myself for not doing more direct teaching in my own neighborhoods, whether at home or > here in this community. > > Fortunately I’m in good company, as even the Bab didn’t think He was doing enough of the > right things! > > I beg Thee to forgive me, O my Lord, for every mention but the mention of Thee, and > for every praise but the praise of Thee, and for every delight but delight in Thy > nearness, and for every pleasure but the pleasure of communion with Thee, and for > every joy but the joy of Thy love and of Thy good-pleasure, and for all things > pertaining unto me which bear no relationship unto Thee. (The Bab, Baha'i Prayers, p. > 79) > > My goal in coming here was threefold: > >  To maintain a Bahá’í presence in an Inuit community while the only Bahá’í leaves for > 10 weeks >  To have an adventure >  To have a writer’s retreat > > This is clear in my mind; and clear with the pioneer and those then are my marching orders. > > So what then is courage in this situation, and what does being a cougar look like? > > I keep coming back to the fact that I need more courage to promote the word of God; and > that the only way I get it is to teach the Faith directly. Is that an accurate reading of this > quote? Is that coming from my lower nature to “beat me up” or from my higher nature? > > As a Bahá’í-inspired life coach I would ask a client which felt better, and I have to say that > in my heart of hearts, I know that God is happy with what I am doing and is giving me > exactly what I need; guiding me to what’s good for me and for this community and I can let > go of any expectations to do more than what I’m doing right now. My biggest job on this > trip is to learn about His love as the source of my courage. > > It’s good that another thing my dream is teaching me is to be independent, because the > relationship between steadfastness in God’s love as a source of courage is certainly not out > there in the larger community! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 128 > > Let’s look at another quote: > > Whatever decreaseth fear increaseth courage. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the > Wolf, p. 32) > > I like this one too, because it brings me back to love. How you ask? 'Abdu’l-Bahá tells us: > > It was the Love of God that . . . gave to Moses courage and patience. (Abdu'l-Bahá, > Paris Talks, p. 82) > > But more importantly, as Bahá'u'lláh tells us in the Four Valleys, love and fear can’t exist in > the same heart: > > Love is a light that never dwelleth in a heart possessed by fear. (Baha'u'llah, The Four > Valleys, p. 58) > > So it seems to me that God is telling us that love, by decreasing fear, increases courage. > > Feeling unloved by my parents, siblings, spouse, significant others and child has been the > way God has used to teach me to turn to Him for love instead of seeking it in human > beings: > > I have detached myself from my kindred and have sought through Thee to become > independent of all that dwell on earth and ever ready to receive that which is > praiseworthy in Thy sight. (The Bab, Baha'i Prayers, p. 21) > > OK, I confess, I didn’t consciously detach myself from my kindred! I went kicking and > screaming! But eventually I gave up and accepted what is, realizing: > > We . . . turn nowhere for a haven but unto Thy safekeeping. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i > Prayers, p. 22) > > I came to realize that since the very purpose of our lives is nothing less than to know God > and to worship Him, something had to happen so I could attain my purpose: > > I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship > Thee. (Bahá'u'lláh, Short Obligatory Prayer, Baha'i Prayers, p. 3) > > So to get back to the topic of courage, I can’t get courage without turning to God: > > Strive as much as ye can to turn wholly toward the Kingdom, that ye may acquire > innate courage and ideal power. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l- > Bahá, p. 206) > > Once I learn to have love on the inside, and courage on the outside, I need to bring it inside > myself, to calm the parts of me who aren’t feeling so courageous: > > May you be a source of courage to the affrighted one. (Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation > of Universal Peace, p. 425) > > Enough about me. Let’s take this quote to you, my readers. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 129 > > As we’re learning, courage has 2 parts: > > Promotion of the Word of God: > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá gives us a clear link between courage and teaching and shows what we need > to do: > > Rest assured that the breathings of the Holy Spirit will loosen thy tongue. Speak, > therefore; speak out with great courage at every meeting. When thou art about to > begin thine address, turn first to Bahá'u'lláh, and ask for the confirmations of the Holy > Spirit, then open thy lips and say whatever is suggested to thy heart; this, however, > with the utmost courage, dignity and conviction. It is my hope that from day to day > your gatherings will grow and flourish, and that those who are seeking after truth will > hearken therein to reasoned arguments and conclusive proofs. I am with you heart > and soul at every meeting; be sure of this. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings > of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 269) > > A perfect story to illustrate this is: > > Abdul-Bahá tested both the faith and courage of many of the Baha'is He met and > Corinne True was one He really challenged. First, He had put her in charge of the > Temple project, a woman dealing with many men. Then, as they stood at the train > station before He left for Minneapolis, Abdul-Bahá told her, "Mrs. True, I want you to > speak in public. I want you to tell the people about the faith." This completely floored > Corinne and she objected, saying, "But Master, I can't do it; I have no training, no > experience. I'm too frank." "The faith", she Thought, "had many gifted speakers, but > she didn't consider herself to be one of them." Knowing what she was frantically > thinking, Abdul-Bahá told her how to do it: "Forget what you can't do. Stand up and > turn your heart wholly toward Me. Look over the heads of the audience and I'll never > fail you." (Earl Redman, Abdul-Bahá in Their Midst, p. 195) > > And another good one: > > To another He said: "Man is like a bird in a cage. A bird cannot attain freedom merely > by knowing that in the free world there are pure breezes, spacious skies, beautiful > gardens, pleasant parks and fountains; rather, the bird must find the power to break > the cage and soar into the wide firmament." (Earl Redman, Abdul-Bahá in Their Midst, > p. 205) > > I can really use stories like these to beat myself up. While valid for many people, at many > times, I don’t think this is what God’s calling on me to do on this trip. This isn’t what God > wants from me right now. That’s not what “steadfastness in His love” looks like for me. > > Steadfastness in His Love > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá lovingly reminds us of the relationship between tests, persecutions and > calamities as a way to acquire courage. > > Consider thou the lives of the former sanctified souls; what tests have they not > withstood and what persecutions have they not beheld; while they were surrounded > with calamities they increased their firmness and while they were overwhelmed with > tests they manifested more zeal and courage. Be thou also like unto them. (Abdu'l- > Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l-Bahá v2, p. 302) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 130 > > For years I’ve been trying to overcome a lifetime of tests, by learning to apply the “divine > remedy” to my healing, and as Bahá'u'lláh reminds us, nothing short of a mystic > transformation can turn agitation into peace; doubt into certitude and timidity into courage. > > It is evident that nothing short of this mystic transformation could cause such spirit > and behaviour, so utterly unlike their previous habits and manners, to be made > manifest in the world of being. For their agitation was turned into peace, their doubt > into certitude, their timidity into courage. Such is the potency of the Divine Elixir, > which, swift as the twinkling of an eye, transmuteth the souls of men! (Baha'u'llah, > The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 156-157) > > It has and I am grateful! > > By “following the instructions, I have been able to rid myself of anxiety, depression, post- > traumatic stress disorder and as a result no longer have TMJ (grinding teeth at night). And > I am grateful! > > But having faith, patience and courage is only the beginning! > > Only have faith, patience and courage -- this is but the beginning, but surely you will > succeed, for God is with you! (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 101) > > Surely you will succeed because God is with you! I love God’s promises! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 131 > > Overcoming Fear through Teaching and > Service: > There are several reasons why taking action is one important key to overcoming anxiety. > > It’s not enough to pray for solutions. We must take action. It’s the only way our prayers > can be answered. > > It is not sufficient to pray diligently for guidance, but this prayer must be followed by > meditation as to the best methods of action and then action itself. Even if the action > should not immediately produce results, or perhaps not be entirely correct, that does > not make so much difference, because prayers can only be answered through action > and if someone’s action is wrong, God can use that method of showing the pathway > which is right. (Shoghi Effendi, Guidelines for Teaching, p. 325) > > Have no fears or doubts. Your opportunities are great, the confirmations of God > abundant. Sally forth then, therefore, to seize your moment, to make your mark on > the destiny of humankind. (The Universal House of Justice, 1994 Dec 22, To > National Youth Conference, Phoenix Arizona) > > In the Five Steps of Prayer For Solving Problems, Shoghi Effendi tells us to pray, meditate, > come to a decision, and act as if it had all been answered. Then he warns us: > > Many pray but do not remain for the last half of the first step. Some who meditate > arrive at a decision, but fail to hold it. Few have the determination to carry the > decision through, still fewer have the confidence that the right thing will come to their > need. But how many remember to act as though it had all been answered? How true > are those words - "Greater than the prayer is the spirit in which it is uttered" and > greater than the way it is uttered is the spirit in which it is carried out. (Shoghi > Effendi, Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 91) > > Humanity is steadily sinking into a mess and we are the only ones who can help. There’s no > time to lose. The faster we learn these principles and take action to remove anxiety from > our lives, the sooner we can use this reclaimed energy to carry out our duties. > > There is no time to lose. The hour is ripe for the proclamation, without fear, without > reserve, and without hesitation, and on a scale never as yet undertaken, of the One > Message that can alone extricate humanity from the morass into which it is steadily > sinking, and from which they who claim to be the followers of the Most Great Name > can and will eventually rescue it. The sooner they who labor for the recognition and > triumph of His Faith in the new world arise to carry out these inescapable duties, the > sooner will the hopes, the aims and objectives of 'Abdu'l-Bahá as enshrined in His own > Plan, be translated from the realm of vision to the plane of actuality and manifest the > full force of the potentialities with which they have been endued. (Shoghi Effendi, > Messages to America, p. 79) > > The great thing about taking action is that it distracts us from our worries. When we’re > active, our thoughts are turned to other things and we forget our fears: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 132 > > Be not idle, but active and fear not. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í World Faith, p. 362) > > Rúhíyyih Khanum tells us how Shoghi Effendi used this technique to his advantage: > > In reading over my diaries - so very little of which I have quoted out of hundred of > pages written off and on throughout the years - it seems strange to me there is > practically no reference to the World War raging everywhere during almost six years > and constituting such a dire threat to the safety of the World Centre of the Faith and > particularly to the Guardian himself as Head of that Faith. Nothing could more > eloquently testify to the internal upheavals he was going through during all those > years than this blank. The day-to-day pressures and the work, worry and mental > exhaustion were so great that it crowded mention of this constant threat and anxiety > into the background. (Rúhíyyih Khanum, The Priceless Pearl, p. 177) > > There are two ways in which taking action will help yourself and others: teaching and > service, and you’ll want to be engaged with both of them, every day, particularly when > you’re anxious. > > When we study the Writings on Teaching we learn how they inspire us to cast off our fears, > misgivings and sense of inadequacy: > > A study of the compilation [on teaching] will provide the friends with stimulating > information on general guidelines to be followed by them when engaged in the > teaching work. While many will be inspired, after reading the compilation, to cast > aside their fears and misgivings and their sense of inadequacy, and will arise to > speak forth announcing the glad-tidings of the Kingdom to their fellow-men. > (Universal House of Justice, NSA USA - Developing Distinctive Baha'i Communities) > > Once we’ve been inspired by the Writings, it’s important to get out and teach, because > that’s the source of our courage and power: > > The source of courage and power is the promotion of the Word of God, and > steadfastness in His Love. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 155) > > Service is another very important component in reducing anxiety. We’re told that only by > implementing the system of Baha'u'llah can fear be eliminated. We do this through service: > > Our contributions to the Faith are the surest way of lifting once and for all time the > burden of hunger and misery from mankind, for it is only through the system of > Bahá'u'lláh -- Divine in origin -- that the world can be gotten on its feet and want, > fear, hunger, war, etc. be eliminated. (Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í Funds: Contributions > and Administration, p. 12) > > I love it when God tells us plainly that He’s giving us “one of the great spiritual laws of life” > because it makes me pay attention. When I focused on my diagnosis of anxiety and PTSD, > I spent years in therapy, trying to analyze the source of my fears, but it kept me trapped on > the hamster wheel of thinking about myself. When I read this quote, I realized that the key > was to turn away from myself and towards achieving my true station in life – that of a > servant: > > The more we search for ourselves, the less likely we are to find ourselves; and the > more we search for God, and to serve our fellow men, the more profoundly will we > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 133 > > become acquainted with ourselves, and the more inwardly assured. This is one of the > great spiritual laws of life. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 114) > > When we continually empty ourselves through service, trusting we’ll be filled up by God, > we’re building our spiritual muscles and achieving our purpose in life, which is to draw > closer to God. > > We must be like the fountain or spring that is continually emptying itself of all that it > has and is continually being refilled from an invisible source. To be continually giving > out for the good of our fellows undeterred by the fear of poverty and reliant on the > unfailing bounty of the Source of all wealth and all good -- this is the secret of right > living. (Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í Funds: Contributions and Administration, p. 11) > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá reminds us (and the kings and rulers) that we all inhabit the same earth and > we’re all one family, so when one is unhappy we’re all unhappy. > > The poor man at the gate of his palace spoke out, saying: "O kind king! Assuming > that you are from every point of view so happy, free from every worry and sadness - > - do you not worry for us? You say that on your own account you have no worries -- > but do you never worry about the poor in your land? Is it becoming or meet that you > should be so well off and we in such dire want and need? In view of our needs and > troubles how can you rest in your palace, how can you even say that you are free > from worries and sorrows? As a ruler you must not be so egoistic as to think of > yourself alone but you must think of those who are your subjects. When we are > comfortable then you will be comfortable; when we are in misery how can you, as a > king, be in happiness?" The purport is this that we are all inhabiting one globe of > earth. In reality we are one family and each one of us is a member of this family. We > must all be in the greatest happiness and comfort, under a just rule and regulation > which is according to the good pleasure of God, thus causing us to be happy, for this > life is fleeting. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 41) > > Helping humanity understand the oneness of humanity counteracts the despair and anxiety > which afflict us: > > Only a fostering of the consciousness that "the earth is but one country and mankind > its citizens" is capable of counteracting the despair and anxiety which afflict us. > (Baha'i International Community, 1987 Aug 24, Relationship Between Disarmament > Development) > > The service we do for others isn’t about serving them, though. It’s about serving God. > > The service of the friends belongs to God, not to them. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of > Abdu'l-Baha v1, p. 61) > > I can almost hear you saying: I don’t have time to add another thing to my already busy > life. > > So why is service so important? > > In the Bahá'í Writings, 'Abdul-Bahá tells us it lays the foundation for our own success: > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 134 > > By assisting in the success of another servant in the Cause does one…lay the > foundation for one’s own success and aspirations . . . ('Abdul-Bahá, Star of the West, > Vol. 6, #6, p. 44) > > This doesn’t mean that service has to be outside our normal work life – we can all be of > service to our families, our bosses, our co-workers and customers. It’s more about attitude > than it is about adding more to our workload. It’s about getting rid of false dichotomies. > > Transformation comes through service, so if we want to transmute our fear into something > else, the key is service. > > The power of God can entirely transmute our characters and make of us beings > entirely unlike our previous selves. Through . . . ever-increasing service to His Faith, > we can change ourselves. (Shoghi Effendi, Spiritual Foundations, p. 17) > > As with everything I’m teaching you, the choice is always yours to make – do you want to > be a slave to your moods, or to master them? The key is to find someone else who is > suffering and help them, so you will see that others have it worse than you do: > > Be not the slave of your moods, but their master. But if you are so angry, so > depressed and so sore that your spirit cannot find deliverance and peace even in > prayer, then quickly go and give some pleasure to someone lowly or sorrowful, or to a > guilty or innocent sufferer! Sacrifice yourself, your talent, your time, your rest to > another, to one who has to bear a heavier load than you. ([The Research] > Department has found that these words were attributed to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in an > unpublished English translation of notes in German by Dr. Josephine Fallscheer taken > on 5 August 1910. As the statement is a pilgrim note, it cannot be authenticated.) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 135 > > Overcoming Fear by Changing your > Thoughts > Reprogramming your Subconscious Mind > > Many people go through their lives without understanding why they make the same > mistakes, follow the same patterns, and live in the same ruts. They aren't happy with their > present situation, but they seem to be unable to make any lasting changes. Are you one of > these people? > > Perhaps you’ve attend seminars, read books, and taken courses, but, in the end, fallen back > into the same dysfunctional patterns you've always followed! Why does it always turn out > this way? > > We struggle to make permanent changes in our lives because we input information only into > our conscious mind. Here’s the problem: your conscious mind is not what directs your > behaviors and belief system. > > To change your behaviors, you must first reprogram the hard-wired center of your mind: > the subconscious mind. > > How Does Your Subconscious Mind Work? > > The subconscious is the largest part of our mind. It contains all the messages we’ve > received throughout our lives. It holds millions and millions of thoughts grouped into > clusters that form beliefs, mindsets and character traits. > > The relationship between the conscious and subconscious minds is like an iceberg. The > conscious mind is represented by the visible tip of the iceberg, while the subconscious is > represented by the gigantic lower portion of the iceberg hidden from view. > > You can't see the subconscious in action, but it certainly has a major impact on the voyage > you take in your life. > > The subconscious is the place where all of your learned behaviors reside. Once you learn to > walk, you don't need to consider how to lift and place each foot to take the next step, do > you? Of course not! Your subconscious mind automatically controls your steps. > > Your subconscious learns behavior through repetition and practice. Just as it learned to > control your footsteps when you learned to walk, it also controls your footsteps in your life’s > journey based on what you’ve reinforced throughout your life. > > Some of these “habits of thought” need to be brought to the surface so they can be > examined and changed in light of the new Revelation. > > The good news is you can reprogram your subconscious mind by inputting and reinforcing > new thoughts and actions, by reading the Baha'i Writings morning and night. The Creative > Word of God will influence and educate and transform your outworn habits of thought. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 136 > > There are several different techniques you can use to tap into the subconscious mind and > reprogram how it works. > > Here are some strategies you can use to change your mind and change your life: > > Affirmations > > Affirmations work to change your subconscious mind by using positive, personal, present > tense statements to override the embedded negative thinking. By repeating these positive > thoughts, you can create new pathways in your subconscious, giving it new attitudes. > > Then your subconscious causes you to act in new ways that agree with these new attitudes. > For example, repeating words from the Bahá'í prayers can change your mindset and set > your intention for the day: > >  I will be a happy and joyful being. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i Prayers, p. 150) > >  Enable me to render service to the world of humanity ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. > 73) > >  O God, guide me, protect me. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i Prayers, p. 36) > >  Let my movement and my stillness be wholly directed by Thee. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers > and Meditations, p. 240) > > Visualization > > Visualization is the act of creating detailed mental pictures that depict a desired outcome so > you can see success for yourself. These images stimulate the subconscious into accepting > them as reality, which then directs behavior accordingly. Top athletes around the world use > this technique during game-time. > > The Bahá'í Writings are full of images leading to success. Some of my favorites include: > > o At the right hand of the throne of Thy mercy, seat me. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and > Meditations, p. 258) > > o Behold me standing ready to do Thy will and Thy desire. (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab- > i-Aqdas, p. 93) > > o Bestow upon us a share from the ocean of Thy wealth. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i > Prayers, p. 21) > > o Break off from me the shackles of this nether world. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i > Prayers, p. 57) > > o Cause me to enter the garden of happiness. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i Prayers, p. 44) > > o Create in me a pure heart and renew a tranquil conscience within me. > (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations, p. 248) > > o Free me from the assaults of passion and desire. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from > the Writings of 'Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 174) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 137 > > o From the fragrant breezes of Thy joy let a breath pass over me. (Baha'u'llah, > Prayers and Meditations, p. 258) > > Make a list of your own favorites and use them every day. > > Using techniques like these can help you reprogram your subconscious mind and remove > the burden of the negative thoughts buried there. Imagine the freedom of living your life > without the automatic dysfunctional behaviors you've had driving you for years! > > Conscious Mind > > Now that we’ve discussed the subconscious mind, let’s move on to the conscious mind, > aware of the reality of our lower and higher natures and the necessity of keeping every > thought captive. > > Some spiritual principles to keep in mind in order to change your thoughts include: > > Know that Fear doesn’t Solve Anything: > > He does not feel that fear -- for ourselves or for others -- solves any problem, or > enables us to better meet it if it ever does arise. We do not know what the future > holds exactly. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 237) > > Knowledge of Self: > > It’s helpful to take an inventory of all your fears. They are so dangerous you’ll want to be > conscious of what they are, so that you can consciously work to eliminate them. Find a list > of fears to consider. > > The first Taráz and the first effulgence which hath dawned from the horizon of the > Mother Book is that man should know his own self and recognize that which leadeth > unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or abasement, wealth or poverty . . . (Baha'u'llah, > Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 34-35) > > As you’re learning, though, it’s not enough to stay at this step, as therapy would have you > do. It’s only one piece of the puzzle. > > Understand you’re not alone in having fear: > > For those of us in Haifa who had lived, under the aegis of our beloved Guardian, > through the agonizing days in 1955 when another group of Bahá'ís were being > unjustly persecuted, that time in Persia where the friends suffered senseless acts of > barbarism, murder, rape and pillage of property, it was history repeating itself -- but > with no Shoghi Effendi at the helm to guide and comfort us. We had to pray, act, > endure the heavy-footed hours that never seemed to pass as the time for the > execution of our fellow-Baha's drew nearer and nearer. The burden of anxiety for the > fate of their co-religionists was shared by the entire Bahá'í world; the burden of > responsibility and decision, however, fell upon the Hands of the Cause, particularly > the body of the Custodians in Haifa, and was, indeed, an agonizing and almost > insupportable burden to bear. (Custodians, Ministry of the Custodians, p. 19) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 138 > > Understand that there will be strong emotions (sorrow, fear, disillusionment, > perplexity, indignation, grievances), and that they are unimportant in the face of > opportunities to advance the Cause: > > The opportunities which the turmoil of the present age presents, with all the sorrows > which it evokes, the fears which it excites, the disillusionment which it produces, the > perplexities which it creates, the indignation which it arouses, the revolt which it > provokes, the grievances it engenders, the spirit of restless search which it awakens, > must, in like manner, be exploited for the purpose of spreading far and wide the > knowledge of the redemptive power of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, and for enlisting fresh > recruits in the ever-swelling army of His followers. So precious an opportunity, so rare > a conjunction of favorable circumstances, may never again recur. (Shoghi Effendi, > The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 47) > > Make a choice: > > We have to choose whether we are people of faith of people of fear. People of fear expect > trouble to overtake them. People of faith choose to trust God is working in their life and if > trouble should come, they trust God will enable them to overcome the trouble. Fear does > not torment them for their faith demands to be fulfilled, faith that God will make a way > where there seems to be no way. > > Every time you recognize Fear rising up you have to respond with what you are going to > believe. Make a decision that you are going to walk in love, be loved, and that Fear is not > going to be your guide. You have to choose which one you want to believe. If you’re > practicing fear, you might want to ask yourself: who are you pleasing and who is your Lord > in that part of your life? > > Is it wise to turn away from such a loving Father, Who showers His blessings upon us, > and to choose rather to be slaves of matter? (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 108-109) > > How lofty is the station which man, if he but choose to fulfill his high destiny, can > attain! To what depths of degradation he can sink, depths which the meanest of > creatures have never reached! Seize, O friends, the chance which this Day offereth > you, and deprive not yourselves of the liberal effusions of His grace. (Baha'u'llah, > Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 205) > > Don’t let fear fall on you: > > O ye beloved of the Lord! Beware, beware lest ye hesitate and waver. Let not fear fall > upon you, neither be troubled nor dismayed. (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 349) > > Fear not, neither be dismayed, for your light shall penetrate the densest darkness. > This is the Promise of God, which I give unto you. (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 168) > > Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine." > (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 168) > > Decide to Stop: > > Decide which kingdom you're going to worship: fear or faith. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 139 > > That doesn't mean that every time you feel fear you need to be delivered from it. Instead, > you need to apply what you're learning. You need to throw yourself into the absolute care of > God whether we live or whether we die, whether we win or whether we lose. None of that > matters. We need to throw ourselves on the absolute care of God. > > God delivers us from all our fears. Hello! I have the knowledge of God in front of me! Use > it! So when fear and worry come, show them your “no vacancy“ sign. > > I rule my spirit, not fear. I may be tempted by fear and worry but there’s no room at the > inn. Fear speaks to me and I do some knee-knocking but I don’t yield to it because I have > the law of God strong within me. > > What’s the worst thing that can happen to us? We can die and go to the next world! > > Start taking charge of your own spirit. Start recognizing the source of those thoughts. Are > they coming from your lower nature or from God? Hold every thought captive. > > The Pen of the Most High addresseth Me, saying: Fear not. (Baha'u'llah, The > Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 90) > > Don’t feed them: > > There’s a great story going around the internet – I haven’t been able to find the author: > > An old Cherokee told his grandson: “My son, there is a battle between two wolves > inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, and resentment, inferiority, lies > and ego. The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, > and truth.” > > The boy thought about it, and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?” > > The old man quietly replied, “The one you feed.” > > It’s likely more of a parable than a truth, but it makes an important point. If we feed our > fears by ruminating on them, keeping on the hamster wheel, they will grow and dominate > our lives. If we feed our higher nature through immersing ourselves in the word of God, we > will align ourselves with our true purpose and the fears will fall away. The choice is ours to > make. > > Shoghi Effendi makes a similar point, when he reminds us of our high purpose and urges us > not to allow any anxiety to deflect us from achieving it. > > I appeal to every one of them, and particularly to the members of the assemblies > who safeguard their interests, not to allow any disturbance, suffering, or anxiety to > dim the splendour of their faith, to deflect them from their high purpose, to cause > any division in their ranks, to interfere with the steady consolidation and expansion > of their activities and institutions. I will specially pray that the work they have > magnificently initiated, and so marvellously and soundly developed may suffer no > setback, but rather continue to develop and yield its destined fruit. Persevere and > rest assured. (Shoghi Effendi, Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New > Zealand, p. 43) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 140 > > Just because Shoghi Effendi told us not to let anxiety deflect us from our purpose, doesn’t > mean he too wasn’t beset with worry from time to time. Rúhíyyih Khanum shares a story > about that with us: > > It was not, however, such dangers as these that caused Shoghi Effendi sleepless > nights. His great concern was for the protection of the Twin Holy Shrines. As the > Mandate ended and the Arab-Jewish war broke out, a very real danger threatened > them and caused him acute anxiety. Bahji was only about fifteen miles from the > frontier, over which an invading army might pour at any moment. This was one > worry; the other worry, in a way even more intense, was caused by the mooted > plan, at one time seriously considered, of placing the frontiers of the new Jewish > State in such a way that its northern one would divide Haifa and 'Akká and thus the > World Centre would be split in two, its Administrative Centre situated in one country > and the Holiest Spot on earth, the Qiblih of the Faith, situated in another, hostile to it > and hostile to the Faith itself. Should anyone wonder why the divinely guided > Guardian worried so much over such things, I would like to give an explanation, out > of my own understanding. It seems to me there are three factors involved in most > situations: the Will of God in which His Beneficence, Omnipotence and the destiny He > has ordained for man are all involved - and which ultimately rights all wrongs; the > element of accident, which 'Abdu'l-Bahá says is inherent in nature; and the element > of individual free will and responsibility. Bearing in mind these factors it is not > surprising the Guardian should be deeply concerned over any situation that affected > the interests and protection of the Faith, and should anxiously ponder the problems > facing him, seeking to ensure that the right solution was found, the best opportunity > seized, the greatest benefit for the Cause obtained. (Rúhíyyih Khanum, The > Priceless Pearl, p. 188-189) > > Despite his worry, he didn’t let it stop him from taking action as he pondered the problems > and ensured that the right solution was found. That’s what we must learn to do too. > > Turn your back to fear: > > This community can do no better than to gird up afresh its loins, turn its back upon > the clamour of the age, its fears, confusion and strife, step resolutely forward on its > chosen path, unshakably confident that with every step it takes, should it remain > undeflected in its purpose and undimmed in its vision, a fresh outpouring of Divine > grace will reinforce and guide its march on the highroad of its destiny. (Shoghi > Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha'i Community) > > Remind yourself there is nothing to be afraid of: > > Through the movement of Our Pen of glory We have, at the bidding of the > omnipotent Ordainer, breathed a new life into every human frame, and instilled into > every word a fresh potency. All created things proclaim the evidences of this world- > wide regeneration. This is the most great, the most joyful tidings imparted by the > Pen of this wronged One to mankind. Wherefore fear ye, O My well-beloved ones? > Who is it that can dismay you? (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of > Baha'u'llah, p. 92-93) > > The only thing we should be afraid of is God: > > The days of your life shall roll away, and all the things with which ye are occupied > and of which ye boast yourselves shall perish, and ye shall, most certainly, be > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 141 > > summoned by a company of His angels to appear at the spot where the limbs of the > entire creation shall be made to tremble, and the flesh of every oppressor to creep. > Ye shall be asked of the things your hands have wrought in this, your vain life, and > shall be repaid for your doings. This is the day that shall inevitably come upon you, > the hour that none can put back. To this the Tongue of Him that speaketh the truth > and is the Knower of all things hath testified. (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord > of Hosts, p. 199) > > Understand Death: > > Should we have true faith in the words of the prophets we would not fear death nor > feel despondent over the passing of our loved ones . . . Such earnest souls, when > they pass out of this life, enter a state of being far nobler and more beautiful than > this one. We fear it only because it is unknown to us and we have little faith in the > words of the Prophets who bring a true message of certainty from that realm of the > spirit. We should face death with joy especially if our life upon this plane of existence > has been full of good deeds. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 207) > > Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth not; wherefore fearest thou thy > perishing? Thou art My light and My light shall never be extinguished; why dost thou > dread extinction? Thou art My glory and My glory fadeth not; thou art My robe and > My robe shall never be outworn. Abide then in thy love for Me, that thou mayest find > Me in the realm of glory. (Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words, Arabic 14) > > Stop believing lies: > > We need to stop believing the lies of our idle fancies and vain imaginings and start believing > God. When we can look fear in the face and call it a pack of lies, it’s very empowering. > 'Abdu'l-Baha shows us how when we meet with lies we are miserable: > > When we find truth, constancy, fidelity, and love, we are happy; but if we meet with > lying, faithlessness, and deceit, we are miserable. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 65) > > How much more so, when the lying is coming from us! > > We want to stop lying to ourselves for another reason too. It’s because lying is the worst > quality, most odious sin, most blameworthy quality. It destroys all human perfections and > leads to other vices and is the foundation of all evil! Surely that’s reason enough to focus > on what’s real! > > Consider that the worst of qualities and most odious of attributes, which is the > foundation of all evil, is lying. No worse or more blameworthy quality than this can be > imagined to exist; it is the destroyer of all human perfections and the cause of > innumerable vices. There is no worse characteristic than this; it is the foundation of all > evils. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 215) > > Change our Thoughts: > > It’s important to have the right attitude towards our fears; and one way to do it is to > remember the vision presented to us in the Writings: > > Therefore, the dear friends of God who have such a broad and clear vision before > them are not perturbed by such events, nor are they panic- stricken by such > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 142 > > thundering sounds, nor will they face such convulsions with fear and trepidation, nor > will they be deterred, even for a moment, from fulfilling their sacred responsibilities. > (Universal House of Justice, Lights of Guidance, p. 127) > > It behoves man to abandon thoughts of non-existence and death which are > absolutely imaginary and see himself ever living, everlasting in the divine purpose of > his creation. He must turn away from ideas which degrade the human soul, so that > day by day and hour by hour he may advance upward and higher to spiritual > perception of the continuity of the human reality. (Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith, > p. 265-266) > > He urges you to put these dark thoughts from your mind, and remember that God, > the Creator of all men, can bear to see them suffer so, it is not for us to question His > wisdom. He can compensate the innocent, in His own way, for the afflictions they > bear. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 237) > > When you transform your negative outlook into a positive one, you can accomplish so much > more. In doing so, your mind will be released from negative programming, allowing you to > excel and succeed throughout your life. > > I think this is what 'Abdul-Bahá means when he says: > > I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on > love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of > peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. > Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. > (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 29) > > Forget about them: > > The Guardian urges you to forget all your fears . . . (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of > Guidance, p. 238) > > How do we do that? Through teaching and service: > > . . . with a tranquil heart and radiant spirit, to teach and serve the Faith all you can > in Yonkers and its vicinity, while depending on God for your guidance and help. The > teaching work is of the utmost importance in these days, and whoever engages in it > will be reinforced by the Hosts on High. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 238) > > Affirmations: > > When fear tries to come back, stand up to it. Don't let it ruin your life anymore. Quote these > words back to fear: > >  I WILL no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. ('Abdu’l-Bahá, > Baha'i Prayers, p. 150) > >  I fear no tribulation in His path, nor any affliction in My love for Him and in the way > of His good pleasure. (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 131) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 143 > >  I WILL fear no one, though the powers of earth and heaven be leagued against Me. > (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 101) > >  Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love in > my heart all the world's afflictions can in no wise alarm me. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers > and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 208) > >  I fear no tribulation in His path, nor any affliction in My love for Him and in the way > of His good pleasure. (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 131) > >  Such is my love for Thee that I can fear no one, though the powers of all the worlds > be arrayed against me. Alone and unaided I have, by the power of Thy might, arisen > to proclaim Thy Cause, unafraid of the host of my oppressors. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers > and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 187) > >  Thou turnest restlessness into tranquillity, fear into confidence, weakness into > strength, and abasement into glory. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by > Baha'u'llah, p. 212) > >  Thou art He Who changeth through His bidding abasement into glory, and weakness > into strength, and powerlessness into might, and fear into calm, and doubt into > certainty. No God is there but Thee, the Mighty, the Beneficent. (Baha'u'llah, > Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 249) > > Stand up right now and say this with me: > > Fear, you are a product of my lower nature. Fear, you are just an idle fancy and vain > imagining. > > Fear, God didn't give you to me. He gave me the power of love and the ability to > discern good from evil. Because you're not from God you must be evil. > > Fear, my father is in Heaven, on His throne and you're not. > > Fear, Baha'u'llah's teachings told me all about you. He is my Deliverer, my > Redeemer, my Savior. I'm under His protection at all times and under all conditions. > He is my Comforter and the One who leads me into all truth. He is the Power of God > within me. I've joined myself to God so if you want to tangle with me, you'll need to > tangle with my Father. I'm under the shadow of His wings and I am perfectly safe. I > will not listen to your lies anymore. So, what are you going to do about that? > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 144 > > Overcoming Fear through Tests and > Difficulties > Once you decide to overcome your anxiety, and ask God for help, you can count on the fact > that your tests will increase! He’s giving you a chance to strengthen your resolve and try > out your new skills. After all, reading about what to do is not the same as putting into > practice what you’re learning, and the best way to do this is through tests! > > Sorrow not if, in these days and on this earthly plane, things contrary to your wishes > have been ordained and manifested by God, for days of blissful joy, of heavenly > delight, are assuredly in store for you. Worlds, holy and spiritually glorious, will be > unveiled to your eyes. You are destined by Him, in this world and hereafter, to partake > of their benefits, to share in their joys, and to obtain a portion of their sustaining > grace. To each and every one of them you will, no doubt, attain. (Gleanings from the > Writings of Baha'u'llah, p.328) > > I love this quote! During my dark days, when I was writing to the House for guidance, they > sent it to me. Often when they quote from the Writings, they don’t give a source, so I > thought they’d written it just for me! It was a real test for my ego to find it was written by > Bahá'u'lláh for the whole world!  > > I love it because it contains both an assurance that He understands that life doesn’t go our > way; and a promise we can count on, that better days are ahead, both in this world as well > as in the world to come, even if we don’t see it right now. It’s very important to hold on to > this promise, because it’s what’s going to get you through. > > What you’re going through could be a “dark night of the soul” and daylight will surely follow, > just as it does every night. > > In the Hidden Words, Bahá'u'lláh tells us: > > For everything there is a sign. (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 48) > > The sign of better days to come is found in nature, as day following night; and spring > (hope) and summer (ease) following winter (cold, dark, bleak days of grief). > > In the same Hidden Word, He also reminds us of how we demonstrate our love for Him: > > The sign of love is fortitude under My decree and patience under My trials. > (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, 48) > > Remind yourself that through this process, you are developing faith, trust, fortitude and > patience! Someday you will need these virtues and thank God you had a chance to develop > them so you aren’t handicapped in the next world! > > As the child in the womb does not yet know the use of its members, it does not know > what its eyes are for, neither its nose, nor ears, nor tongue -- so also it is with the > soul on earth. It cannot understand here the uses and powers of its spiritual gifts, > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 145 > > but directly it enters the eternal kingdom, it will become clearly apparent. ('Abdul- > Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers 9, p. 48) > > 'Abdu’l-Bahá shows how the virtues we are developing now are the seeds necessary for the > trees of our lives to grow: > > We must strive with energies of heart, soul and mind to develop and manifest the > perfections and virtues latent within the realities of the phenomenal world, for the > human reality may be compared to a seed. If we sow the seed, a mighty tree > appears from it. The virtues of the seed are revealed in the tree; it puts forth > branches, leaves, blossoms, and produces fruits. All these virtues were hidden and > potential in the seed. Through the blessing and bounty of cultivation these virtues > became apparent. Similarly the merciful God our creator has deposited within human > realities certain virtues latent and potential. Through education and culture, these > virtues deposited by the loving God will become apparent in the human reality even > as the unfoldment of the tree from within the germinating seed. (Abdu’l-Bahá, > Baha'i World Faith, p. 267) > > When invited back into your life, God comes slowly and gently and He will work with you > again but He's not going to eliminate your fears. He’s going to bring you back into the face > of your enemy through tests and difficulties, so that you can face them with Him by your > side. > > God sends us tests for the perfection of our souls; and to help us achieve our life’s purpose, > which is to draw closer to Him. When we understand this, it’s easier to deal with them. > > The House of justice urges you not to let it worry you. All through life Bahá'ís are > faced with tests of many kinds, and problems and doubts, but it is through facing and > overcoming them that we grow spiritually. (The Universal House of Justice, 1982 Jan > 03, Teaching vs. Proselytizing) > > It’s important that we understand the purpose of tests and to know that God has sent them > to us for the perfection of our souls. > > You are encouraged to continue to keep in mind the spiritual dimension of your > struggles. We are assured by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the following words: “The more > difficulties one sees in the world the more perfect one becomes. The more you plough > and dig the ground the more fertile it becomes. The more you cut the branches of a > tree the higher and stronger it grows. The more you put the gold in the fire the purer > it becomes. The more you sharpen the steel by grinding the better it cuts. Therefore, > the more sorrows one sees the more perfect one becomes. That is why, in all times, > the Prophets of God have had tribulations and difficulties to withstand. The more often > the captain of a ship is in the tempest and difficult sailing the greater his knowledge > becomes. Therefore I am happy that you have had great tribulations and difficulties... > Strange it is that I love you and still I am happy that you have sorrows. ('Abdu'l- > Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. XIV, No. 2, p. 41) > > It’s easy to say we believe, but much harder to prove it to God and to ourselves: > > It is easy to approach the Kingdom of Heaven, but hard to stand firm and staunch > within it, for the tests are rigorous, and heavy to bear. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from > the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 274) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 146 > > Whenever we pray for a particular quality or virtue, we can be sure that God will send us > unique tests to help develop that quality. For example, perhaps you’d like to overcome > anxiety. God will give you lots of fearful situations so that you can apply what you are > learning. To a soul who doesn’t understand, we might think that He’s not answering our > prayer, because our anxiety seems to be increasing and not decreasing. It’s just God giving > us lots of opportunities to practice. > > Even as He hath revealed: ‘Do men think when they say “We believe” they shall be let > alone and not be put to proof?’ (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, pp. 8-9) > > Only when we face our fears can we get freed from them. > > The more often the captain of a ship is in the tempest and difficult sailing the greater > his knowledge becomes. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. XIV, No. 2, p. 41) > > Here’s a story to illustrate how God throws us overboard to teach us to rely on Him: > > A king was sailing in a ship with his Persian slave. The slave had never been on the > sea before; he began to weep and cry out and to shudder with fear, and however > much they sought to quiet him he would not be still. The king's excursion was in a fair > way to be spoiled and none knew what to do. Then a wise man who was on the ship > said to the king, 'If thou wish, I shall quiet him.' The king answered, 'Truly this were a > gracious deed.' The wise man bade them throw the slave into the sea. After he had > choked down some water they seized him by the hair and drew him toward the ship. > He clung to the ship with both hands, and once out of the water he sat in a corner and > was still. The king was astonished, and asked, 'What wisdom lay in this?' The wise > man answered: 'The slave did not know what it is to drown, and thus he did not value > the safety of the ship. Even so doth a man value security who hath known calamity. > (Marzieh Gail, Dawn Over Mount Hira, p. 9) > > So what will get us through our tests? > > 1. Trust God and the process: > > Whatever hath befallen you, hath been for the sake of God. This is the truth, and > in this there is no doubt. You should, therefore, leave all your affairs in His > Hands, place your trust in Him, and rely upon Him. He will assuredly not forsake > you. In this, likewise, there is no doubt. No father will surrender his sons to > devouring beasts; no shepherd will leave his flock to ravening wolves. He will > most certainly do his utmost to protect his own. If, however, for a few days, in > compliance with God’s all-encompassing wisdom, outward affairs should run > their course contrary to one’s cherished desire, this is of no consequence and > should not matter. (Baha'u'llah, Fire and Light, p. 10) > > 2. Be patient and composed, trusting in God’s grace: > > When calamity striketh, be ye patient and composed. However afflictive your > sufferings may be, stay ye undisturbed, and with perfect confidence in the > abounding grace of God, brave ye the tempest of tribulations and fiery ordeals. > (Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 73) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 147 > > 3. Grin and bear it is God’s advice to Bahá'u'lláh in the Fire Tablet! > > Thou wert created to bear and endure, O Patience of the worlds. (Bahá'u'lláh, > Baha'i Prayers, p. 218) > > 4. Turn towards God and cling to the Writings: > Our intent is that all the friends should fix their gaze on the Supreme Horizon, > and cling to that which hath been revealed in the Tablets. (Bahá'u'lláh, Fire and > Light, p. 10) > > 5. Understand that it’s not forever and we will emerge more spiritual and closer to God. > > The troubles of this world pass, and what we have left is what we have made of > our souls; so it is to this we must look—to becoming more spiritual, drawing > nearer to God, no matter what our human minds and bodies go through. > (Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 297) > > I’d like to conclude with this quote which is full of advice: > > Naturally there will be periods of distress and difficulty, and even severe tests; but if > the person turns firmly towards the Divine Manifestation, studies carefully His > spiritual teachings and receives the blessings of the Holy Spirit, he will find that in > reality these tests and difficulties have been the gifts of God to enable him to grow > and develop. Thus you might look upon your own difficulties in the path of service. > They are the means of your spirit growing and developing. You will suddenly find > that you have conquered many of the problems which upset you, and then you will > wonder why they should have troubled you at all. (Shoghi Effendi, Living the Life, p. > 35-36.) > > Tests After Becoming a Bahá’í > Yes, it’s true that since becoming a Bahá’í the tests have been one intense test after > another. Bahá'u'lláh tells us this is what happens: > > Even as He hath revealed: ‘Do men think when they say “We believe” they shall be let > alone and not be put to proof?’ (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, pp. 8-9) > > Shoghi Effendi tells us: > > And yet, . . . it is the lot of the chosen ones of God, the people of Baha, to face > adversity and suffer tribulation before achieving ultimate victory . . . (Shoghi Effendi, > Baha'i Administration, p. 60) > > He understands how hard it is to bear our tests: > > It is easy to approach the Kingdom of Heaven, but hard to stand firm and staunch > within it, for the tests are rigorous, and heavy to bear. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from > the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 274) > > He shows us there are two kinds of Bahá’ís – those who are tested and those who aren’t. > The Cause rests on those who are! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 148 > > There is always an important difference between friends and tested friends. No matter > how precious the first type may be, the future of the Cause rests upon the > latter. (Shoghi Effendi, The Light of Divine Guidance, vol. 1, p. 34-35) > > The world needs you to pass these tests! > > God understands how hard it is: > > It is often difficult for us to do things because they are so very different from what we > are used to, not because the thing itself is particularly difficult. With you, and indeed > most Bahá'ís, who are now, as adults, accepting this glorious Faith, no doubt some of > the ordinances, like fasting and daily prayer, are hard to understand and obey at first. > But we must always think that these things are given to all men for a thousand years > to come. For Bahá'í children who see these things practiced in the home, they will be > as natural and necessary a thing as going to church on Sunday was to the more pious > generation of Christians. (Shoghi Effendi, Lights Of Guidance, p. 343) > > It is not easy for people to learn the Bahá'í way, to overcome their inherited > prejudices or to resist their personal temptations. This way takes time, is subject to > checks and backsliding, but one can see, looking at the past 138 years, that there is > an overall advance that is astonishing in the light of the obstacles to be overcome, and > is accelerating with every passing decade. (The Universal House of Justice, Messages > 1963 to 1986, p. 516) > > This is what happens when you don’t: > > When an individual reaches a point where he recognizes Bahá'u'lláh as a Manifestation > of God, his heart becomes the recipient of the light of God's Faith for this day. If the > believer immerses himself from the start in the ocean of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation, > reads His writings daily not merely in order to add to his own knowledge but to receive > the food of the spirit, seeks the companionship of the righteous, and arises to serve > Him with sincerity and detachment, then he may steadily grow in faith and become a > radiant and enthusiastic soul. He may obtain a deeper understanding of the writings > and reach a point where both his mind and his heart work together in harmony. Such > a believer will eventually find no conflict between the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh and his > own thinking. He will discover many a wisdom hidden in the utterances of Bahá'u'lláh > and will recognize the limitations and shortcomings of his own finite mind. But if a > believer, after having recognized Bahá'u'lláh, fails to follow this path, he may soon find > himself in conflict with many aspects of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh. His intellect may not > be able to understand the wisdom behind many of His Teachings, he may indeed > reject some of His precepts and eventually lose faith altogether. Some people struggle > for years to overcome this problem, for they long to be confirmed in their faith. Often > such an individual may be helped to acquire a true understanding of the Faith by those > who truly believe in Bahá'u'lláh and are detached from this world. (Adib Taherzadeh, > The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 2, p. 217) > > The House of Justice tells us: > > The souls who bear the tests of God become the manifestations of great bounties: for > the divine trials cause some souls to become entirely lifeless, while they cause the > holy souls to ascent to the highest degree of love and solidity. (The Universal House > of Justice, 1985 Dec 02, Child Abuse, Psychology and Knowledge of Self) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 149 > > Don’t become one of the lifeless! The world needs you! > > In the end, it all boils down to one thing: trust in God! > > No matter what happens, nothing is as important as our feeling of trust in God, our > inner peacefulness and faith that all, in the end, in spite of the severity of the ordeals > we may pass through will come out as Bahá'u'lláh has promised. (Shoghi Effendi, > Lights of Guidance, p. 237) > > Hope this helps you to understand the tests you’re having in a new light! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 150 > > Overcoming Fear through Using Role > Models: > Turn to Baha'u'llah: > > In truth the Blessed Perfection was . . . a shelter for every fearing one. > (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 221) > > In the Tablet of Ahmad, Baha'u'llah asks us to: > > Remember My days during thy days, and My distress and banishment in this remote > prison. (Baha'u'llah, Baha'i Prayers, p. 210) > > When I was in the deepest despair, remembering traumatic events of my childhood, I came > across this quote, which helped to lift me out of my “self”. I was feeling a lot of “poor me” > and “why did this have to happen to me”, and then I had to stop and remember > Bahá'u'lláh’s days. > > Bahá'u'lláh was born into a wealthy family and was expected to follow his father into an > important position in the government of Persia (Iran). He didn’t want the position or the > power. Instead He wanted to dedicate Himself to helping the oppressed, sick and poor and > to champion the cause of justice. > > As a result, His life included a series of imprisonments, and banishments. At one point He > was imprisoned for four months in an underground reservoir for a public bath, with its only > outlet a single passage down three steep flights of stone steps. He sat with his feet in stocks > and a 100-pound iron chain around his neck. He and His fellow prisoners (150 thieves, > murders and highwaymen) huddled in their own bodily wastes, languishing in the pit's inky > gloom, subterranean cold and vermin and stench-ridden atmosphere. > > When He was freed from prison, He and His family were banished to Bagdad (Iraq), a 3 > month journey on foot over the mountains in the middle of winter without enough food. > > “The throat Thou didst accustom to the touch of silk Thou hast, in the end, clasped > with strong chains, and the body Thou didst ease with brocades and velvets Thou hast > at last subjected to the abasement of a dungeon. Thy decree hath shackled Me with > unnumbered fetters, and cast about My neck chains that none can sunder . . . How > many the nights during which the weight of chains and fetters allowed Me no rest, and > how numerous the days during which peace and tranquility were denied Me . . . Both > bread and water . . . they have, for a time, forbidden unto this servant . . . and Thy > behest summoned this servant to depart out of Persia, accompanied by a number of > frail-bodied men and children of tender age, at this time when the cold is so intense > that one cannot even speak, and ice and snow so abundant that it is impossible to > move”. (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 109) > > He stayed in Bagdad for 7 years, and then was banished again to Constantinople (Turkey), > where he stayed for four months, and then was exiled again to Adrianople (Turkey). Again > it was in winter and they didn’t have the proper clothes to protect them from the harsh > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 151 > > weather. In order to drink, they had to light a fire to thaw ice from springs along the way. > He stayed there for four and a half years and then was banished to the prison city of ‘Akká > (Israel), to which the worst criminals were sent. He remained there for the rest of His life > (24 years). > > He was discredited by His uncle, poisoned by his jealous half-brother and witnessed the > death of His son. He was betrayed by people He trusted, stoned, and isolated from the > Believers. For a time, to protect the Faith from the efforts of His half-brother, He lived as a > hermit. He was the victim of ignorance, injustice, cruelty and fanaticism. > > But every crisis was followed by victory, and this, I believe, is what is important to > remember. > > Although my repressed memories included all the positive and neutral memories too, once > they came back I was able to see that like Bahá'u'lláh, there were times in my life that were > peaceful, and activities that weren’t abusive. From anger I learned to find my voice and > take action. From poverty I was protected from materialism and learned to rely on God. > From estrangement I gained knowledge of myself, and through it, knowledge of God. From > being silenced, I was protected from backbiting and gossip. > > So when you’re feeling in the pit of despair, I urge you to remember not only the negative > things that happened to you, and to Bahá'u'lláh, but to remember the victories that came > from them as well. > > Turn to the Blessed Spot: > > Verily, I read thy letter which indicated that thou hast turned unto the Blessed Spot, > that the Truth (of God) hath revealed itself to thee, that thy fear is quieted and that > thou hast attained to composure, assuredly believing in this great Cause. (Abdu'l- > Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v1, p. 71) > > Turn to ‘Abdu'l-Bahá: > > I wish to add a few words of assurance and sympathy in view of the heavy burden of > responsibility that rests on your shoulders in these difficult and trying times. My > fervent and increasing prayer is that 'Abdu'l-Bahá may show you the way that will > enable you to continue your splendid pioneer work effectually, peacefully, free from > every earthly care and anxiety. (Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British > Baha'i Community, p. 30) > > Haji Mirza Haydar-'Ali writes in the Bihjatu's-Sudur of the hopes of the Bahá'ís that, > as the heir to Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá would, with the passage of years, come to > resemble Him physically as well; but their hopes did not materialize, because > sorrows and tribulations pressed hard upon 'Abdu'l-Bahá, afflictions weakened His > frame and made Him a prey to a number of ailments. He goes on to say that 'Abdu'l- > Bahá, in order to protect His followers from worry and anxiety, would not expose > them to the knowledge of His maladies which at times were severe. (H.M. Balyuzi, > Abdu'l-Baha - The Centre of the Covenant, p. 133) > > Recently I've been reading the newly released "Tablets of 'Abdu’l-Bahá'" which is filled with > His answers to questions people put to Him. It's so full of love, I feel that reading them is > like reading love letters to me too! > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 152 > > Remember the suffering of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá: > > In times of disappointment, stress and anxiety, which we must inevitably encounter, > we should remember the sufferings of our departed Master. Your work, your energy, > your vigilance and care, your loving-kindness are assets that I greatly value and > prize. Keep on, persevere, redouble in your efforts, repeat and rewrite the > admonitions and instructions of our Beloved in your communications with individuals > and Assemblies until they sink in their hearts and minds. This was truly our Beloved's > way and method and none better can we ever pursue. Your present pioneer work will > surely be remembered and extolled by future generations. My prayers will always be > offered for you. In matters of contribution we should not use any compulsion > whatsoever and ascertain clearly the desire of the donor. We should appeal to but > not coerce the friends. (Shoghi Effendi, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. > 532) > > In times of disappointment, stress and anxiety, which we must inevitably encounter, > we should remember the sufferings of our departed Master. (From a letter written by > Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 9 July 1926) (The Universal House of > Justice, 1985 Dec 02, Child Abuse, Psychology and Knowledge of Self) > > Turn to the Central Figures of the Faith: > > Again, in God Passes By, he tells us of the anxieties of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, called upon to > undertake a succession of colossal tasks throughout the entire period of His Ministry. > Most recently, The Priceless Pearl has drawn aside the curtain on the life of the > Guardian, and revealed to us the anxieties and agonies of the solitary and heroic > figure who charted our course in service to the Cause for centuries to come. Yet who > can doubt that all the central Figures demonstrated to the whole of mankind an > assured and happy way of life? Here is where their example seems particularly > precious. To rise above the disappointments, obstacles, and pain which we > experience in serving the Cause is difficult enough, but to be called on, in doing so, > to be happy and confident is perhaps the keenest spiritual test any of us can meet. > The lives of the Founders of our Faith clearly show that to be fundamentally assured > does not mean that we live without anxieties, nor does being happy mean that there > are not periods of deep grief when, like the Guardian, we wrap ourselves in a > blanket, pray and supplicate, and give ourselves time for healing in preparation for > the next great effort. (Universal House of Justice, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 116) > > Study the life of Bahiyyih Khanum: > > The memory of the beloved Khanum will, assuredly, prove to be your great comfort > in your moments of sufferings and anxiety and will guide your steps and strengthen > your spiritual power and insight. (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Indian > Subcontinent, p. 86) > > How staunch was her faith, how calm her demeanour, how forgiving her attitude, > how severe her trials, at a time when the forces of schism had rent asunder the ties > that united the little band of exiles which had settled in Adrianople and whose > fortunes seemed then to have sunk to their lowest ebb! It was in this period of > extreme anxiety, when the rigours of a winter of exceptional severity, coupled with > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 153 > > the privations entailed by unhealthy housing accommodation and dire financial > distress, undermined once for all her health and sapped the vitality which she had > hitherto so thoroughly enjoyed. The stress and storm of that period made an abiding > impression upon her mind, and she retained till the time of her death on her > beauteous and angelic face evidences of its intense hardships. (Compilations, > Bahiyyih Khanum, p. 33-34) > > Study the Lives of the Martyrs and the Courage of the Baha'is in Iran: > > But, thanks to the strengthening grace of Bahá'u'lláh and the demonstration of > steadfastness by these noble friends (the Bahá’ís of Iran), we shall know how to > meet the shafts of the enemy without fear. (The Universal House of Justice, Ridvan > 153, 1996) > > Read the Dawnbreakers > > It is interesting to note as well that Shoghi Effendi encouraged the believers to study > the Dawn-Breakers, which he described as an “unfailing instrument to allay distress.” > (Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 23 October 1994) > > Sometimes it's not enough to turn to books for comfort - you need a real person to talk > to. That's when you can use the Institutions of the Faith. > > Turn to the Continental Board of Counsellors: > > When you have doubts and concerns about your own plans, confide in the > Counsellors; when something they do causes you worry, talk to them in the proper > spirit of Bahá'í consultation. Remember that they, like yourselves, are burdened with > the work of the Cause and are beset with many concerns in its service, and they > need your sympathetic understanding of the challenges they face. Open your hearts > and your minds to them; regard them as your confidants, your loving friends. And be > ever ready to extend to them your hand in support. (The Universal House of Justice, > 1994 May 19, response to US NSA) > > Turn to the Auxiliary Board: > > Training alone, of course, does not necessarily lead to an upsurge in teaching activity. > In every avenue of service, the friends need sustained encouragement. Our > expectation is that the Auxiliary Board members, together with their assistants, will > give special thought to how individual initiative can be cultivated, particularly as it > relates to teaching. When training and encouragement are effective, a culture of > growth is nourished in which the believers see their duty to teach as a natural > consequence of having accepted Bahá'u'lláh. They "raise high the sacred torch of > faith," as was 'Abdu'l- Baha's wish, "labour ceaselessly, by day and by night," and > "consecrate every fleeting moment of their lives to the diffusion of the divine fragrance > and the exaltation of God's holy Word." So enkindled do their hearts become with the > fire of the love of God that whoever approaches them feels its warmth. They strive to > be channels of the spirit, pure of heart, selfless and humble, possessing certitude and > the courage that stems from reliance on God. In such a culture, teaching is the > dominating passion of the lives of the believers. Fear of failure finds no place. Mutual > support, commitment to learning, and appreciation of diversity of action are the > prevailing norms. (The Universal House of Justice, 2001 Jan 09, Conference of the > Continental Boards of Counsellors) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 154 > > Overcoming Fear – Checklist > There's been a lot to consider in previous articles, so I wanted to summarize it here, so you > can monitor your progress, and make sure you've covered all the bases. > > Use this list as a checklist, and when you’ve completed them all, you’ll have cast fear out > and replaced it with the love of God. > > Forgiveness Forgive God > Forgive yourself > Forgive others > Ask God for His forgiveness > > Patience Remember there is a season for everything > Remind yourself that you have the right to fail > Give it time > > Prayer Reading prayers morning and night > Saying your Obligatory Prayer > Using the Prayer for Protection > Using specific prayers to overcome fear > > Read the Writings Reading the Writings morning and night > Deepen your knowledge > Meditation on the Words of God > Study a prayer with someone > > Role Models Baha'u'llah > 'Abdu’l-Bahá > Shoghi Effendi > Central Figures > Bahiyyih Khanum > Martyrs > Dawnbreakers > Continental Board of Counsellors > Auxiliary Board Members > > Sin Understand lower and higher nature > Understand the Nature of Sin > > Teaching and Service Action > Distraction > Teaching > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 155 > > Service > Core Activities > > Tests and Difficulties Understand the role and purpose of tests and difficulties > > Thoughts Knowledge of Self > Fear doesn’t solve anything > Habits of Thought > Stop Believing Lies > Turn your back on fear > Change Thoughts > Stop Feeding the Fear > Forget about Them > Understand strong emotions > Understand you’re not alone > Use Affirmations > Make a choice and decide to stop > Understand Death > > Turn to God Choose the Right Source > Turn to God > Trust God > Take your problems to God > See the end in the beginning > Recognize Bounties > Receive God’s Love > Recognize God’s Forgiveness > Recognize God’s Protection > Cling to the Cord > > Virtues Consultation > Courage > Detachment > Faith > Gratitude > Happiness and Joy > Love > Mindfulness > Peacefulness > Radiance > Trust > > Now that you've checked off all the things on this list, hang up a mental “no room at the > inn” sign inside your heart, so that fear and anxiety won’t be able to express itself in you > again. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 156 > > What Can Others Do To Help Those Who > Are Afraid? > One of the things I love about the Baha'i Faith is that it not only gives us advice on how we > ourselves can transform, but it also suggests how we can help others. This shouldn’t be so > surprising since we are all one; and we’ve been told to walk in each other’s shoes. > > Advice: > > The National Assembly should neither feel embarrassed nor ashamed in turning to > the friends, continuously appealing to them to exemplify their faith and devotion to > the Cause by sacrificing for it, and pointing out to them that they will grow spiritually > through their acts of self-abnegation, that the fear of poverty should not deter them > from sacrificing for the Fund, and that the assistance and bounty of the Source of all > good and of all wealth are unfailing and assured. (Universal House of Justice, Lights > of Guidance, p. 258-259) > > Consultation > > By consulting together, fears, misgivings and any sense of inadequacy can be cast > aside, the group can set their own goals and then, together or each one alone, work > for achievement of the goals. (International Teaching Centre, 1989 Jul 05, > Encouraging the Formation of Teaching Groups) > > Devotional Gatherings > > The mere act of your gathering together is enough to scatter the forces of these vain > and worthless people. (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 84) > > Groups > > In a learning environment fear of failure is eliminated, and the friends are helped to > focus on achievements and the new capacity for progress that learning creates. > (International Teaching Centre, 1992, Building Visions of Growth) > > Love and encouragement > > Looking back upon those sullen days of my retirement, bitter with feelings of anxiety > and gloom, I can recall with appreciation and gratitude those unmistakable evidences > of your affection and steadfast zeal which I have received from time to time, and > which have served to relieve in no small measure the burden that weighed so heavily > upon my heart. (Shoghi Effendi, Baha'i Administration, p. 66) > > Protection: > > . . . shelter those who are overshadowed by fear. (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of > Universal Peace, p. 453) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 157 > > Specific Prayers > > Thou hast written concerning the Tablet of Baka Ya Ali -- Baka Ya Vafi (Tablet of > Protection). This Tablet is for the healing of ailments. Whenever one is anxious about > the recovery of an ill one, he may read this prayer with a melodious voice while in a > state of the utmost attention and concentration. (Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu'l- > Bahá v2, p. 469) > > The following prayer of protection for the bearer has recently (July/August 1996) > been translated into English from Arabic at the Bahá'í World Centre. > > "In His Name, the Exalted, the All-Highest, the Most Sublime! > > Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! O Thou Who art my God, and my Master, and my > Lord, and my Support, and my Hope, and my Refuge, and my Light. I ask of Thee, > by Thine Hidden and Treasured Name, that none knoweth save Thine own Self, to > protect the bearer of this Tablet from every calamity and pestilence, and from every > wicked man and woman; from the evil of the evil-doers, and from the scheming of > the unbelievers. Preserve him, moreover, O my God, from every pain and vexation, > O Thou Who holdest in Thy hand the empire of all things. Thou, truly, art powerful > over all things. Thou doest as Thou willest, and ordainest as Thou pleasest. > > O Thou King of Kings! O Thou kind Lord! O Thou Source of ancient bounty, of grace, > of generosity and bestowal! O Thou Healer of sicknesses! O Thou Sufficer of needs! > O Thou Light of Light! O Thou Light above all Lights! O Thou Revealer of every > Manifestation! O Thou the Compassionate! O Thou the Merciful! Do Thou have mercy > upon the bearer of this Tablet, through Thy most great mercy and Thine abundant > grace, O Thou the Gracious, Thou the Bounteous. Guard him, moreover, through Thy > protection, from whatsoever his heart and mind may find repugnant. Of those > endued with power, Thou, verily, art the most powerful. The Glory of God rest upon > thee, O thou rising sun! Do thou testify unto that which God hath testified of His own > Self, that there is none other God besides Him, the Almighty, the Best-Beloved." > Bahá'u'lláh > > Understand their condition is not permanent: > > It’s important to remember that nothing stays the same and tomorrow is another day. Just > because someone seems anxious today doesn’t mean they will always be that way, > particularly if they are doing what the Writings ask us to do: > > People who looked anxious yesterday, today have faces shining with gladness. > (Abdu'l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 74) > > Here’s a story of how ‘Abdu'l-Bahá dealt with people’s fears: > > Soon after the outbreak [of the war], Haifa, which was still under Turkish rule, was > panic-stricken. Most of the inhabitants fled inland, fearing bombardment by the > Allies. Those Baha'i friends who were merchants suffered great losses, for all their > stores of tea, sugar, etc., were commandeered by the Government, without > payment. The friends, in spite of the reassurances of the Master that no guns would > be turned on Haifa, were living in constant fear, and the children, having heard > terrible stories which were being told everywhere, grew quite ill, always looking > round and about with frightened eyes. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 158 > > At this time, the Master decided that it would be well to accept an invitation of the > Shaykh of Abz'uSinz'an to remove the Baha'is and their children to that peaceful, > healthy village, out of reach of the dreaded bombarding. In this village also, the very > limited resources of the friends would, with strictest economy, be sufficient for their > daily needs, with the help of the corn from 'Abdu’l-Bahá’s storing. Shaykh Salih > placed his house at the disposal of 'Abdu’l-Bahá and His family, Who received the > most cordial welcome from this gracious and courteous chief of the Druze village of > Abu-Sinan. The other Persian friends were gladly taken into various houses of the > village, where they found themselves in most happy surroundings. Their food was of > the simplest: lentils, dried beans, delicious olives and their oil, and sometimes milk, > eggs, and even some goat's meat. The fresh pure air was, of course, wonderfully > good for their health, and they quickly recovered calm nerves and strength of body. > (Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 159 > > Prayers to Eliminate Fear > Detachment from Anxiety > Before praying to have all our fears removed you’ll want to take authority over your life and > let go of all emanations from your lower nature. You’ll want to let go of all fears so you can > live life totally free and independent of all save God. > > Repeat each one of the following out loud for the best results: > > I let go of all anxiety, phobias, claustrophobia and panic attacks. > > I let go of the fear of tomorrow, where I expect things to go wrong. > > I let go of all dread, worry, change, the unknown, and of making the wrong decisions. > > I let go of all fear of losing my life. > > I let go of all the wasted years I’ve spent in worry and anxiety. > > I let go of all fear of death, the dying process and dying prematurely. > > I let go of all fears of losing my children, of my children not becoming Baha’i, and of the loss > of relationships. > > I let go of all fear of disease, pain, suffering, disability and disfiguration. > > I let go of all fear of doctors, hospitals, needles, blood and vomit. > > I let go of all negative fears of God, of losing His pleasure, of being severely punished and > losing any chance of salvation. > > I let go of all fear of sin, of evil spirits and superstitions. > > I let go of all fear of trusting God or man and all fears of betrayal. > > I let go of all fears of any public speaking, being noticed or being killed. > > I let go of all fears of self-consciousness, shyness, inferiority, criticism, inadequacy, reproof, > harassment and bullying. > > I let go of all fear of other people's facial expressions, other people's bitterness, other > people's words of disapproval and verbal rejection. > > I let go of all fear of humiliation and from being shamed. > > I let go of all fear around other races and cultures, of bigotry, prejudice and abandonment. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 160 > > I let go of all fears around obesity, alcoholics, sex offenders, drug-users and being around > people who are drinking or doing drugs. > > I let go of all fears of being alone and lonely. > > I let go of all fear of abandoning my loved ones through death or disease. > > I let go of all fear of not having enough money to provide for food, drink, housing, and > clothing. > > I let go of all fears of poverty, of having to live in a room in somebody else's house. > > I let go of all fears of insanity, night terrors, torment, fearful dreams, nightmares, fearful > visions and the dark. > > I let go of all fear of allergic reactions to food, drink, clothes, dust, mold and chemicals in > the environment. > > I let go of all fear of drivenness and perfectionism that won't let me fail. > > I let go of all desire to control other people, to need to know what's going to happen, to > need for information. > > I let go of all of my fear of being controlled. > > I let go of my fear of my family members, my spouse and my children. > > I let go of all fears of animals, including snakes, spiders, mice and bats. > > I let go of my fear of all natural disasters including tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, > fire or tsunamis. > > I let go of all fear of my lower nature and what it’s capable of doing, of war, conflict and > terrorism. > > I let go of all fear of estrangement, apathy and lethargy. > > I let go of my fear of being touched, hugged, intimacy, having sex or the loss of sex. > > I let go of all fear of my own sexuality, other people sexuality, menopause, menstrual > cycles, pregnancy, PMS and childbirth. > > I let go of my fear of success, Halloween and noise. > > I let go of my fear of choking, suffocation, drowning. > > I let go of my fear of weapons, of being robbed or abused sexually, physically or verbally. > > I let go of my fear of premature death from accidents. > > I let go of my fear of cowardice and self-pity. > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 161 > > I take responsibility for my own life, for making a commitment to my own healing to asking > for help and depending on other people. > > Fear: I have taken care of your hold on me. It's time for you to go. > > I now realize how free I have become in order to have healing, wholeness, health and > homeostasis from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. Every cell, membrane, > tissue and organ of my body has been healed from the effects of fear. Thank you God for > healing me of all my fears. > > Prayers for Healing Anxiety > > O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my > affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and > grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will > I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art > more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord. (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, > Baha'i Prayers, p. 151) > > I beseech Thee, O my God, by them and by the sighs which their hearts utter in their > separation from Thee, to keep them safe from the mischief of Thine adversaries, and to > nourish their souls with what Thou hast ordained for Thy loved ones on whom shall come > no fear and who shall not be put to grief. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by > Baha'u'llah, p. 3) > > Pour forth upon all them that are dear to Thee what will preserve them from fear and > trembling after me. Powerful art Thou to do whatsoever may please Thee. No God is there > except Thee, the All-Glorious, the All-Wise. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by > Baha'u'llah, p. 18) > > Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! I entreat Thee by Thy Name through which the Hour > hath struck, and the Resurrection came to pass, and fear and trembling seized all that are in > heaven and all that are on earth, to rain down, out of the heaven of Thy mercy and the > clouds of Thy tender compassion, what will gladden the hearts of Thy servants, who have > turned towards Thee and helped Thy Cause. Keep safe Thy servants and Thy handmaidens, > O my Lord, from the darts of idle fancy and vain imaginings, and give them from the hands > of Thy grace a draught of the soft-flowing waters of Thy knowledge. Thou, truly, art the > Almighty, the Most Exalted, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers > and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 72) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 162 > > I am the one, O my God, who, through the love I bear to Thee, hath been able to dispense > with all who are in heaven and on earth. Armed with this love, I am afraid of no one, > though all the peoples of the world unite to hurt me. (Bahá'u'lláh, Prayers and Meditations, > p. 309) > > O Thou forgiving Lord! Thou art the shelter of all these Thy servants. Thou knowest the > secrets and art aware of all things. We are all helpless, and Thou art the Mighty, the > Omnipotent. We are all sinners, and Thou art the Forgiver of sins, the Merciful, the > Compassionate. O Lord! Look not at our shortcomings. Deal with us according to Thy grace > and bounty. Our shortcomings are many, but the ocean of Thy forgiveness is boundless. > Our weakness is grievous, but the evidences of Thine aid and assistance are clear. > Therefore, confirm and strengthen us. Enable us to do that which is worthy of Thy holy > Threshold. Illumine our hearts, grant us discerning eyes and attentive ears. Resuscitate the > dead and heal the sick. Bestow wealth upon the poor and give peace and security to the > fearful. Accept us in Thy kingdom and illumine us with the light of guidance. Thou art the > Powerful and the Omnipotent. Thou art the Generous. Thou art the Clement. Thou art the > Kind. (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 176) > > Before the throne of Thy oneness, amid the blaze of the beauty of Thy countenance, cause > me to abide, for fear and trembling have violently crushed me. Beneath the ocean of Thy > forgiveness, faced with the restlessness of the leviathan of glory, immerse me, for my sins > have utterly doomed me. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 234) > > Turn, then, O my God, their fear into the evidences of Thy peace and Thy security, and their > abasement into the sovereignty of Thy glory, and their poverty into Thine all-sufficient > riches, and their distress into the wonders of Thy perfect tranquillity. Vouchsafe unto them > the fragrances of Thy might and Thy mercy, and send down upon them, out of Thy > marvelous loving-kindness, what will enable them to dispense with all except Thee, and will > detach them from aught save Thyself, that the sovereignty of Thy oneness may be revealed > and the supremacy of Thy grace and Thy bounty demonstrated. (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and > Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 335) > > O Thou pitiful God! These friends are perfectly infatuated with Thy nearness; they have > given their hearts for the beauty of Thy face; are devoted to Thy Kingdom and are > intoxicated by the wine of belief. In the meeting of the covenant they are bearing in their > hands the cup of anxiety, needing Thy benevolence and yearning for the heavenly > blessings. O Mighty Creator! Cause these souls to be the receptacle of Thy mercy, > regarded by divine attention, and render each one as a lighted candle, that they may > illuminate that region with the light of righteousness. Make them the companions of and > partaker with this servant [Abdul-Baha] in the devotion of Thy Threshold. O my God! > Strengthen the weak ones and open the eyes of those who are anxious to behold the > beauty of the Kingdom, that they may arise with divine strength, heavenly bounty, spiritual > blessing, ethereal breaths and mighty assistance for Thy service, dispelling the > superstitions of the doubters, elucidating the proofs and evidences before all seekers, > healing the sick, being kind to the poor, a refuge and home for the helpless and a light for > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 163 > > the hopeless. Thou art the Powerful and the Able, the Pitiful and Compassionate God! > (Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v3, p. 646 - 647) > > We ask God to . . . raise them unto a station where the world and the lordship thereof shall > not turn them aside from looking toward the Supreme Horizon, and where anxiety for > gaining a livelihood and providing household goods shall not divert them from the thought > of that day whereon the mountains shall be made like carpets . . . By my Lord, were I given > the choice between the glory and opulence, the wealth and dignity, the ease and luxury > wherein they are, and the distress and affliction wherein I am, I would certainly choose that > wherein I am today, and I would not now exchange one atom of these afflictions for all that > hath been created in the kingdom of production! Were it not for affliction in the way of God > my continuance would have no sweetness for me, nor would my life profit me . . . And in all > this we give thanks to God, the Lord of the worlds, and we praise Him under all > circumstances, -- verily He is a witness unto all things. (Baha'u'llah, Tablet to the Shah of > Persia, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 79-80) > > In Islam a special prayer was ordained to be said in times of natural phenomena which > cause fear, such as earthquakes. This has been annulled, and in its place a Bahá'í may say > "Dominion is God's, the Lord of the seen and the unseen, the Lord of creation". > (Baha'u'llah, Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 58) > > Conclusion > > You can defeat Fear. Fear is not greater than God! Fear is not greater than the Word of > God! Fear is not greater than you! > > You'll want to share these teachings with everyone you meet, but we need to exercise > wisdom. It's unlikely they'll want to hear so all we can do is pray for them. > > Not everything that a man knoweth can be disclosed, nor can everything that he can > disclose be regarded as timely, nor can every timely utterance be considered as suited > to the capacity of those who hear it.' Such is the consummate wisdom to be observed > in thy pursuits. Be not oblivious thereof, if thou wishest to be a man of action under all > conditions. First diagnose the disease and identify the malady, then prescribe the > remedy, for such is the perfect method of the skilful physician. (Abdu’l-Bahá, > Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 268) > > Walking out of fear into faith doesn't mean that it won't visit you again. When you're > standing in faith and fear is reaching all around you, that isn't fear-faith, that's a good > thing, because it means you're facing your enemy. It's a good place to be. You're in > temptation. Some people delude themselves into thinking that if they are finished with fear > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 164 > > they never have to face it down again. It's just another lie from our lower nature. We don't > want to go there. > > Ponder then in thine heart: Matters being such as thou dost witness, and as We also > witness, where canst thou flee, and with whom shalt thou take refuge? Unto whom > wilt thou turn thy gaze? In what land shalt thou dwell and upon what seat shalt thou > abide? In what path shalt thou tread and at what hour wilt thou find repose? What > shall become of thee in the end? Where shalt thou secure the cord of thy faith and > fasten the tie of thine obedience? By Him Who revealeth Himself in His oneness and > Whose own Self beareth witness to His unity! Should there be ignited in thy heart the > burning brand of the love of God, thou wouldst seek neither rest nor composure, > neither laughter nor repose, but wouldst hasten to scale the highest summits in the > realms of divine nearness, sanctity, and beauty. Thou wouldst lament as a soul > bereaved and weep as a heart filled with longing. Nor wouldst thou repair to thy home > and abode unless God would lay bare before thee His Cause. (Baha'u'llah, Gems of > Divine Mysteries, p. 13-14) > > Once we’ve mastered these ways to eliminate fear, it’s important to teach them to our > children from their earliest childhood, so they will know how to eliminate them faster than > we were able to: > > In the treasuries of the knowledge of God there lieth concealed a knowledge which, > when applied, will largely, though not wholly, eliminate fear. This knowledge, > however, should be taught from childhood, as it will greatly aid in its elimination…. > Whatever decreaseth fear increaseth courage. (Bahá’u’lláh, Epistle to the Son of the > Wolf, p. 32) > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > Fear into Faith - Overcoming Anxiety Page 165 > > References: > [1] Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 130 > [2] Bahá’u'lláh, Arabic Hidden Words 3 > [3] Baha’u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words 20 > [4] Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 245 > [5] Bahá’u'lláh, Advent of Divine Justice, p. 69 > [6] Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 114 > [7] Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 130 > [8] Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 118 > [9] Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 112 > [10] Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 168 > [11] Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 37 > [12] Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 174 > [13] Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v2, p. 346 > [14] ‘Abdul-Bahá, Fire and Light, p. 23 > [15] Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 122 > [16] Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 68 > [17] Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 68 > [18] Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 245 > [19] Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 132 > [20]Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 132 > [21] Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 168 > > © Susan Gammage www.susangammage.com > > — *Fear Into Faith: Overcoming Anxiety (Used by permission of the curator)*