Jesus Meets the Young Man Who Was Afraid 

While Jesus was traveling through mountains, he met a young man who was fearful and downcast. He preferred to be alone, spending days hiking through the elevations. He had an inferiority complex and felt helpless, unable to help himself. He had faced numerous difficulties growing up, including losing his father when he was twelve years old. Jesus gave him a friendly greeting, and seeing him so downcast, asked if he could be of any assistance. Jesus explained that it would give him great pleasure if he could be of service.

The young man did not like talking to people, so Jesus approached gently by half-humorously remarking that since he comes up to these hills to get away from people, of course, he wouldn’t want to talk to him. Then Jesus aimed at the goodness in his soul, inquiring, “Do you know the direction of the trails and could you inform me as to the best route to Phenix?” This was something the youth knew and loved. He discovered that he could be of service to someone, which may have never occurred to him until now. He excitedly marked out every trail, where to turn, what to look out for, and the quickest way. Jesus was grateful and started down the trail. Then he suddenly turned around.

Jesus said, “I know you wish to be left alone with your disconsolation, but it would be neither kind nor fair for me to receive such generous help from you as to how best to find my way to Phenix and then unthinkingly to go away from you without making the least effort to answer your appealing request for help and guidance regarding the best route to the goal of destiny which you seek in your heart while you tarry here on the mountainside. As you so well know the trails to Phenix, having traversed them many times, so do I well know the way to the city of your disappointed hopes and thwarted ambitions. And since you have asked me for help, I will not disappoint you.” The boy was flabbergasted, and stammered, “But—I did not ask you for anything—” And Jesus laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, and explained, “No, son, not with words but with longing looks did you appeal to my heart. My boy, to one who loves his fellows there is an eloquent appeal for help in your countenance of discouragement and despair. Sit down with me while I tell you of the service trails and happiness highways that lead from the sorrows of self to the joys of loving activities in the brotherhood of men and in the service of the God of heaven.”

By this time, Jesus piqued the young man’s interest. He knelt at Jesus’ feet and pleaded with Jesus to help him escape from his prison of personal sorrow and defeat. Jesus spoke man to man: “My friend, arise! Stand up like a man! You may be surrounded by small enemies and be retarded by many obstacles, but the big things and the real things of this world and the universe are on your side. The sun rises every morning to salute you just as it does the most powerful and prosperous man on earth. Look—you have a strong body and powerful muscles—your physical equipment is better than the average. Of course, it is just about useless while you sit out here on the mountainside and grieve over your misfortunes, real and fancied. But you could do great things with your body if you would hasten off to where great things are waiting to be done. You are trying to run away from your unhappy self, but it cannot be done. You and your problems of living are real; you cannot escape them as long as you live. But look again, your mind is clear and capable. Your strong body has an intelligent mind to direct it. Set your mind at work to solve its problems; teach your intellect to work for you; refuse longer to be dominated by fear like an unthinking animal. Your mind should be your courageous ally in the solution of your life problems rather than your being, as you have been, its abject fear-slave and the bond servant of depression and defeat. But most valuable of all, your potential of real achievement is the spirit that lives within you, and which will stimulate and inspire your mind to control itself and activate the body if you will release it from the fetters of fear and thus enable your spiritual nature to begin your deliverance from the evils of inaction by the power-presence of living faith. And then, forthwith, will this faith vanquish fear of men by the compelling presence of that new and all-dominating love of your fellows which will so soon fill your soul to overflowing because of the consciousness which has been born in your heart that you are a child of God.”

Jesus went on to tell the lad that he was entering a new phase of life, one filled with faith, courage, and devotion to serving others for God. He explained that being spiritually reborn would align him with the universe, leading to a life of successful endeavors. Jesus encouraged him to embrace challenges and obstacles as catalysts for growth and to abandon fear and cowardice. He urged him to live responsibly as a child of God, dedicated to uplifting humanity and destined for eternal service to God.

And this youth, Fortune, later became the leader of the Christians in Crete, uplifting many believers, and sharing his joy with others.