It is tempting to read, “It is I. Do not be afraid,” and think that God casts judgment on those who fear.

Instead, I believe that in today’s passage, John is inviting us to make meaning of our fear in light of the promise of God’s saving love. We can choose to face our fear, to sit with its discomfort alongside Christ’s love to grow closer to him amid our turbulent times. Or, we can keep avoiding our fear—a very natural, human response—but miss the opportunity for it to be transformed into something more sacred.

The world today continues journeying into stormy waters. As we have seen during the recent pandemic, the burdens of fear and insecurity are often unevenly carried by those already marginalized in society by status, race, and poverty. How have these circumstances contributed to an increasing mental health crisis?

Where can we turn when our fears feel like they overwhelm our capacity to discern how to grow closer to Christ? And how is God inviting us through our fear to work, not just as individuals but as a collective, to usher in the justice of the kingdom of God to those around us?

Years of training in the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola have taught me that we need to discern how our emotional experiences are potential opportunities for God’s grace. Using a Daily Examen can train us to pay attention to subtle data. It enables us to notice how the Holy Spirit might work in our interior movements. And yes, especially our fears.

This process of spiritual transformation can be complicated, but it is possible when we take to heart and mind that God is near and God loves us. We must remember that we are more protected and more whole when, like the disciples, we board the boat together, encounter the storm, and meet God along the way.