He Who Fears Suffering…
“He who fears suffering is already suffering from his fears.”
—Michel de Montaigne
This quote hits me deeply because it reflects how I lived for so long—making decisions not just out of fear, but out of the fear of fear itself. I was terrified of pain, rejection, and loss, so I tried to control everything. In doing so, I was already suffering. Even before anything bad happened, my mind was consumed with anxiety, my heart racing ahead to worst-case scenarios.
In addiction, fear ran my life. Fear of facing reality. Fear of being without the crutch of substances. Fear of not being enough. And here’s the irony: in trying to avoid suffering, I created a deeper suffering. My life became a constant cycle of trying to dodge the future while destroying the present.
AA teaches us a simple but profound truth: “Half measures availed us nothing.” Living in fear is the ultimate half measure—we never fully live, because we’re always bracing for impact. The antidote to this isn’t more control. It’s surrender.
That’s why Let Go and Let God is so powerful. It’s a choice to stop running from fear and hand it over to the One who holds all things. It’s choosing to trust that even if suffering comes, God’s grace will meet us there. Jesus said,
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
(Matthew 6:34)
When I stop fearing fear, I step into the freedom of the present moment. I realize that most of my pain was never from the event itself, but from my endless anticipation of it. When I let go, I discover that God is already here, in the now, carrying me through what I thought I couldn’t handle.
Today, I don’t have to fear suffering. I don’t have to live trapped by the “what ifs.” I can take the next right step, trust God with the outcome, and rest in the truth that His grace is enough.
Reflection
How has fear shaped your decisions in the past?
Are you still holding onto the “fear of fear” itself?
What would it look like to Let Go and Let God with the worries you’re holding right now?
Prayer
God, I admit that fear has often ruled my life. I’ve suffered more in my imagination than in reality, and I’ve tried to control what only You can hold. Today I choose to let go of fear and trust You with what’s ahead. Give me peace in this moment, and help me to rest in Your care. Amen.
