Afraid the war in Ukraine may cause World War III? Here’s how to manage your fear

But the Bible urges us not to be afraid. The expression "Do not be afraid" is repeated 365 times. Here are a few suggestions that can be useful in order to avoid becoming overwhelmed, inspired in part by Fr. Nikolaas Sintobin, "Web Pastor" of the Jesuit community in Amsterdam, who has written about fear in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first step in breaking the spiral of anxiety is to talk about it—to a trusted person, not publicly on social networks. Indeed, on the internet, you don't know who will answer you, and some people tend to foster fear, not calm it.

According to St. Ignatius, fear grows more in the secret of one's heart. Expressing your fear to someone you trust allows you to externalize it. This is a way to unburden yourself and to break the vicious circle of fear feeding on itself.

A great deal of "fake news" is circulating on the internet. Especially in times of war, information can be inaccurate or manipulated for propaganda. Therefore, it’s important to choose your information sources carefully and to critically examine the facts. When the facts are confused or incorrect, we can draw false conclusions and our fears can be fueled without foundation.

As the hashtag #WorldWarIII currently trending on Twitter proves, social networks contribute with the force of algorithms to create an anxiety-provoking climate, all the more so when you spend hours online. If you can't do without social media, make sure you check who you are listening to and why.

This is what St. Ignatius calls the deception of fear. "The power of fear lies above all in the conviction that fear is justified. Fear knows how to present subtle and relevant arguments like no one else. They are designed to reinforce the credibility of fear. We honestly believe that we are right to feel anxious. After all, these arguments prove that we have no choice but to be afraid. This is exactly where the deception of fear lies," Fr. Sintobin explains. He continues:

“Often it is true that what we fear will actually happen. But you don't have to be afraid of it. We can face the problems. That's what we do from morning to night.”

In other words, we need to take into account not only the facts that incline us to fear, but also the reasons we have for confidence. For Christians, this includes Jesus’ words in John 16:33 - “I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”

We need to remember Our Lord’s words: “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Why should we be afraid of a war that we are not sure, at the moment, will cross the borders of Ukraine? Projecting apocalyptic scenarios doesn’t help. It simply amplifies our fear and plunges us deeper into anxiety. The fear of a future that does not yet exist prevents us from living fully in the present that does exist. 

Whether it is through prayer, fraternal dialogue, volunteering, charitable activities, or fasting, there are many ways of uniting and putting ourselves at the service of peace. In this way, instead of letting our fear or panic grow, we’re doing something active to counteract it.

"Prayer casts out all fear," Pope Francis said at the general audience on February 27, 2019. "The first step in Christian prayer is consigning ourselves to God, to his providence.” Trusting in God's mercy, relying on God, is a good way to free oneself from fear: "It seems to me that you should resolve to do with calm what you can. Do not be anxious about everything, but leave to Divine Providence what you cannot accomplish by yourself," wrote St. Ignatius.

Since the beginning of the Russian offensive, there has been no lack of prayer initiatives. For instance, the pope called for a "Day of Fasting for Peace" in Ukraine on Wednesday, March 2: "To the diabolical absurdity of violence, we respond with the weapons of God, with prayer and fasting," the pope said.

Another way of trusting God, and really believing in him, is to regularly raise short prayers to him such as "Jesus, I trust in you, Jesus, I trust in you" (Claude de la Colombière) or this verse from the psalm: "Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge" (Ps. 16).

These prayers of abandonment by the great saints also offer great comfort, insofar as they invite us to unburden ourselves of all our worries and to rejoice in the love of God, who alone is sufficient.

The “Suscipe” prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola:

This famous prayer of St. Teresa of Avila:

This prayer of St. Claude de la Colombière: