Understanding Fear of the Lord

Maria Riley shares how to teach kids what it means to fear the Lord.

Fear is a challenging theme to understand as a child. Much like love, fear is a word that has different meanings, and children can find it challenging to grasp all of the nuances of each meaning. As parents and therefore our kids’ primary teachers and catechists, it’s our job to teach them the differences. 

Fear is often thought of as a bad thing, but actually, fear is an essential safety instinct. For example, the fear we have when looking over the edge of a steep cliff is our instincts telling us that if we get closer, we may fall to our deaths. Once fear kicks in, we take a step back from the edge and protect ourselves. 

Likewise, we may fear crawling or slithering animals. Our bodies desperately run away from them, thereby ensuring our safety. So if fear is actually an instinct that keeps us safe, why are we told so many times in Scripture to fear not?

I believe this is because too often, our fears and worries are not about life-or-death situations, but imagined possibilities. Rather than fearing a saber-toothed tiger, we’re worried about paying bills and growing inflation. Instead of being anxious about surviving an attack from a neighboring tribe, we’re focused on wearing the right things and saying the right things so we fit in. 

This is the type of fear that Scripture is warning us against. God tells us, over and over again, to not be afraid. The root of this is the principle that if we are worried about the future, it means we are not fully trusting in God. Trust is the opposite of fear. 

Yet we are also told in the Bible that fear of the Lord is good, even the beginning of wisdom (cf. Psalm 111:10). This seems contradictory. We are told to not fear over and over, and yet told to fear the Lord. Does Scripture actually mean that we should be afraid, trembling, and running in the opposite direction of God?

Fear of the Lord can be more accurately described as awe and deepest respect. When we fear the Lord, we know that nothing and no one is more important than Him. We acknowledge His reign over us, and His authority over everything in our lives. 

When we talk to our kids about fear of the Lord, we need to use examples they can understand. Fear of the Lord is the opposite of fear of fellow humans. This means that I care more about what God wants in my life and what God thinks of me than what the other kids at school think. 

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Fear of the Lord is the opposite of fear of fellow humans. #catholicmom

If I properly fear the Lord, when other students are peer-pressuring me to cheat, make fun of another student, or skip class, I will choose to do what is right in God’s eyes. This may result in strained friendships, isolation, or being labeled as a loser. These are never easy things to endure. 

But if I can persevere, my eternal reward will be great. Because when we are called home to meet our Maker, those who properly fear the Lord will actually have nothing to fear for eternity!

Copyright 2022 Maria Riley
Images: Canva