I’m still reading Dune, though I’ve made a lot of headway and hope to finish it this weekend, before the fall term officially begins on Monday. I shared in my last post about the book that some of the sayings from the story really stood out to me. Today, I wanted to share one more. This particular saying is a mantra that the Atreides and Bene Gesserits learned as a reminder to put aside fear, which only serves to cripple the mind and destroy confidence.

Just this week, a friend shared a Bible verse with me that resonated in my spirit, so when I came across the fear litany again in Dune (it’s a recurring issue in the story), I thought it was worth noting.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” Psalm 56:3 (NIV).

“Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn to see fear’s path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain” (Dune).

As a believer, I know that the God I serve is bigger than any enemy, real or imagined. I say imagined because oftentimes, our fears are self-imposed (are they not?). I’m the type of person who likes to think through every possible scenario, but the fact is that there comes a point when the decision (no matter how big or small) must be made in faith. That is where fear likes to trip me up. Will I walk fear’s path, or will I stand boldly and defy it?