Miracles News

September-December, 2025

The Sacrifice of Fear

by Rev. Joyce Peebles, Ordained Ministerial Counselor

In the present story of Joyce, my husband wounded me with words, and I felt unjustly treated. My ego analyzed why he would say such hurtful things. This was not his normal behavior. It did not make me feel better to rationalize that he was coming from his own old wounds. It still amounted to him taking out his bad day on me. My heart closed down. I barely spoke to him the rest of the day. I was suffering.

At the same time, almost immediately after his attack began I heard the Holy Spirit’s Voice tell me to say nothing. It felt very hard. I wanted to defend myself. Although physical violence did not occur, I hurt from the verbal blows I received.

Throughout the rest of the day I heard the Holy Spirit’s Voice tell me to let it go. The best I could do was be silent. The next morning, I read, “Here is the only “sacrifice” You ask of Your beloved Son; You ask him to give up all suffering, all sense of loss and sadness, all anxiety and doubt, and freely let Your Love come streaming in to his awareness, healing him of pain, and giving him Your Own eternal joy.” (W-323.1:1)

I asked the Holy Spirit’s help again. The question came who was experiencing the suffering, loss and sadness? I had to say only the ego could suffer and it doesn’t exist. I wish I could say I felt better immediately, but I did not. I was reluctant to let go of the pain. I had to straight out ask myself if I wanted to identify with the ego as my reality.

Lesson 323 then says, “Such is the “sacrifice” You ask of me, and one I gladly make; the only “cost” of restoration of Your memory to me, for the salvation of the world.” (W-323.1:2)

Did I want to shut down my source of guidance and help? I honestly could not think of anything more fearful than that. I knew from the very beginning I could not continue to hold a grievance if I wanted to wake up. I asked myself who wanted to wake up? The real me, the one who was observing the scenario, wanted out of this nightmare.

This was just another test in the classroom of “life.” I knew if I flunked the test, I would have to take it over again in some other form. In fact, I’ve already taken a similar test many times before. As the observer I was very clear about what I wanted to do. Let it go.

Next Lesson 323 says, “And as we pay the debt we owe to truth, — a debt that merely is the letting go of self-deceptions and of images we worshipped falsely — truth returns to us in wholeness and in joy. We are deceived no longer.” (W-323.2:1-2)

I felt the urge to write and as I wrote I realized I felt much better. My heart was lighter. Although I had not cried before; I cried now for I heard the applause of heaven, realizing I had passed the test.

We are never alone in any test. If we give the ego a chance to analyze or expand on the story, our mind becomes confused, and emotions run rampant.

I am grateful for that voice that says, forgiveness is still and quietly does nothing. This is so I can remember what is really going on. I am taking a test and “I” am the observer, not the character in the story. I was safe all the time, it was impossible that I could have suffered. It all came down to who am I?

Rev. Joyce Peebles, OMC, is a Pathways of Light minister. Email:
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