Many people have told me when I was an MCC pastor that they drove to the church and sat in the parking lot for several Sundays before they got courage to come inside and risk being seen by somebody they knew. Fear saps our energy and distorts our perception of reality. I have found, however, that most of the things that I feared never happened. Fear makes us vulnerable. Fear is never our friend.
Fear causes pain and torment.
The one who is afraid is not yet fully complete in love. We love because God first loved us. When you know that people really love you, you are not afraid of them or what they will do to you. Perfect love really does cast out fear. It was used for casting out unclean spirits.