In these early days of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States (though it's been moving across Asia and Europe for months), I am reflecting on the subject of fear. Fear is all around. Do you feel it? I do. I studied the topic of fear for an address I delivered in 2012 at Compassion International. Along the way, I found a sermon by Rabbi Clifford Librach and Rabbi Marc Gellman entitled "Thou Shalt Not be Paralyzed by Fear" (A) and I am sharing a short portion of it here. May these ancient words of al tirah be a blessing to you as they have been to me.

The commandment which occurs most frequently in our Hebrew bible - the commandment that is repeated most is al tirah, “Be not afraid.” Over 122 times in the Tanach God commands individuals and the whole Jewish people to not be afraid.
The source of the courage to not be afraid is God. The source of the courage to face each day is God. In God is hope; and hope gives us courage, and courage kills fear. Courage trumps fear. Courage is more powerful than fear because God is more powerful than death. God speaks al tirah to those of us who are well but fear becoming ill. God speaks to those of us who are ill and who fear that they may die of their illness. God speaks to those who know they are dying and fear death. God tells each of us be not afraid. God is the reason we hope and trust personally in a tomorrow whose shape we can neither predict nor control, but somehow because of our faith in God's promise, we need not fear."
And what God commanded to them then, God is commanding us now. It is not just a commandment, it is our secret weapon: Do not be afraid.

And a word from the Christian scriptures:

1 John 4:18-19

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.

(A) Original source is https://www.unitedjewishcenter.org/ though it is no longer published.

Fear, Courage and Al Tirah