I recently watched a fascinating TEDx talk by Michelle Khare titled The Pursuit of Fear. In it, she describes her journey of overcoming limits to become a “daredevil,” specifically focusing on her experience training to hold her breath for over three minutes.
She describes the moment the fear of drowning kicked in—that visceral, panic-inducing wall that told her she just could not do it. But then, she made a realization that changed everything: Fear is just an emotion.
Stripped of the racing heart and the panic, fear is simply data. It is information the brain is trying to process. Like most animals, we are biologically programmed for “fight or flight”—a basic survival instinct. But ultimately, it is an emotional response. The question is: Can we process the data without the emotion of fear clouding our minds?
The Wisdom of Sci-Fi
Science fiction has long explored the necessity of mastering our baser instincts to achieve higher potential.
In his epic novel Dune, Frank Herbert imagines the Bene Gesserit, a powerful religious order that trains to conquer fear. They utilize a litany to center themselves when panic sets in, recognizing that fear paralyzes action.
“I must not fear. 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, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Herbert suggests that once controlled, fear is replaced by focus and resilience.
Similarly, in Star Wars, George Lucas presents the Jedi—a sect of self-disciplined peacekeepers. Master Yoda famously outlines the slippery slope of unchecked emotion: “Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.”
It doesn’t take a genius to realize this progression is accurate. Fear creates vulnerability, which often calcifies into rage, eventually leading to hatred. Entire nations have fallen victim to this exact process.
The Anatomy of Anger
If fear is the root, anger is often the fruit. But what actually makes us angry?
At its core, anger is simple to understand: Anger is a broken expectation.
When we expect a scenario to unfold a certain way, and it fails to do so, we experience anger. Think of it this way: I ask my daughter not to jump on the bed because she might break it. Minutes later, I catch her jumping on the bed. My anger is not just about the bed; it is based on my own expectation of obedience being broken.
What Does the Bible Say?
If we look at these three distinct stages—Fear, Anger, and Hate—Scripture offers a “data processing” manual for each.
- On Fear: The Bible reminds us that fear is not our native state. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Fear is a signal to turn to God, not a command to panic.
- On Anger: Scripture acknowledges that anger is a natural response but warns against letting it fester. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” James 1:19 adds the practical discipline: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
- On Hate: This is where the cycle must stop. 1 John 2:9 states, “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.” The Christian mandate is radical love, even for enemies, disrupting the Star Wars progression of “hate leads to suffering.”
Processing the Data
If we can strip away the emotion of fear, anger, and hate, what is left?
Data. Information.
Processing this information devoid of emotion allows us to be analytical, objective, and reasonable, rather than reacting in the rage of the moment. We have all experienced the regret of emotional reaction. No one has ever said, “I am sorry. I was angry and said some really constructive things!”
When we are angry, we say things we later regret. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
This brings us to a choice regarding the disciplines of a life of faith. Which scenario reflects true spiritual maturity?
- I lost my temper and said things I shouldn’t have?
- I lost my temper and kept my mouth shut?
The second option isn’t about repressing emotion; it’s about pausing long enough to let the emotion pass so we can see the data underneath. It is the discipline of waiting until “only I will remain.”