At the root of Christian faith is the confidence that in God’s world, we need not live in fear. And this does not come as smooth words of comfort in easy times. These words are delivered when people are up against it, when times are hard, and reasons to fear are, well, reasonable. But we believe that regardless of the circumstances, love overcomes. It is the claim of this faith throughout the ages. “Fear not.” We are given a spirit that is “powerful, loving, and self-controlled.”