As a counselor and as
someone who has dealt with a lot of fear, I have come to the conclusion that
one step is accepting fear as a God given emotion. Without it, we would walk
into traffic or into the jaws of hungry animals. A rush of adrenaline gives athletes,
performers, firefighters, policemen, soldiers and everyday citizens an edge to do
their best. Successful people have learned to channel the fight or flight
response into a healthy sense of fight, not flight. “I can do this, God is
right here!” Our praise team has often discussed that we do better when we have
some butterflies going in. So by welcoming it, we short circuit that potential
“fear of fear” that feeds panic and anxiety attacks. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision that something else matters more than fear.
More significantly, the reason we face our fears, as God’s
children, is to do his will. In
stepping out on faith, we do our best and let the Holy Spirit do his work in us
and others. Focus turns from our own fears to the will of God and the needs of
others. People need our gifts. Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 speak to the interdependence of God’s church:
In Romans 12:4-6
Paul has just encouraged them to offer their bodies as living sacrifices,
conforming no longer to the pattern of this world. He goes on to say:
“4) Just as each of us
has one body with many members, and these members do not have the same
function, 5) so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member
belongs to all the others. 6) We have different gifts, according to the grace
given us.”
Ephesians 4:11-12) It was
he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists,
and some to be pastors and teachers, 12)to prepare God’s people for works of
service so that the body of Christ may be built up.
These passages show it is God’s will that we use our gifts
to build one another up. I need your gifts and you need mine. So, God is eager
to answer our prayers to empower us to do his will. That is more important than
our fears.
Courage is feeling fear and doing the right thing anyway. If
we are full of confidence in self,
where is there room for God to work? Thank God that you need him, and that he
gives you challenges that require you to count on his strength and not your
own! That’s the adventure of following Jesus!
Breaking through: Often involves taking small faithful steps in
the general direction of our goal. So for example if your goal is public
speaking, you might read a scripture or lead a small class or discussion on a
special occasion. Leaning hard into God, listening for his applause, being
gracious with yourself as you make progress, meditating on his promises, remembering
that others need your gifts and message, all these things come together over time to
cast out unhealthy fear.
Some helpful promises to claim:
Psalm 56:3
“When I am afraid, I
will trust in you.
In God, whose word I
praise,
In God I trust; I will
not be afraid.
What can mortal man do
to me?”
This Scripture includes 2 steps: 1) acknowledging the fear,
and 2) choosing to trust God and his Word.
Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I
am with you;
do not be dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you
and help you;
I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand.”
This verse reminds us of God’s presence (I am with you), of
his relationship with us (I am your God), of his willingness and ability to
strengthen us to do his will (I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold
you with my righteous right hand).
Philippians 4:13
“I can do everything
through him who gives me strength.”
I think it’s important on this one to acknowledge that the
context of this verse, (what Paul was talking about when he wrote it) was being
content in every situation (whether living in plenty or in want). He was
testifying that he could be content, no matter what, because God strengthened
him. That is the interpretation of the verse. In application,
I believe it means that we can do anything God wants us to do. It is not saying
that God will strengthen you to do selfish things you have dreamed up for your
own profit or glory, rather that he will empower you to do his will. So going
back to identifying fears that are blocking God’s will for your life, if you
become convinced God has something for you to do for his kingdom, he is ready,
willing and able to empower you.
A note about easing into things: Sometimes, in his timing,
God throws us into the deep end (rather than easing us into things) giving us a
large audience right out of the gate. When he does this, he knows best and he
meets us there. His grace is always sufficient for us on the day and hour we
need it, to empower us to do whatever he asks of us.
