Fear-Overcoming It

Introduction

Over the last several weeks we have been looking at fear from many angles. If you haven’t read the previous posts, I encourage you to start at the beginning and read the series in order. The series starts here fear what is it, what the Bible says, and fear is a liar. Today I want to conclude the series with how I overcome my fears in the hope that it will help you develop your own method of overcoming fear.

Acknowledge the Fear

The first step is maybe the most important and that is to acknowledge the fear. However you choose to do this admit that you are afraid. I like to talk to myself and will actually say aloud that what I am facing scares me. It’s not always easy to recognize and acknowledge the fear but over time it becomes easier. You begin to recognize the pounding heart, sweaty palms, and general feeling of dread for what they are, your fear response. Fear is a natural response and there is no shame in being afraid. Don’t listen to the people who try to tell you that admitting to fear is weakness, its not. Sometimes that fear keeps us from doing something incredibly stupid, but it can also keep us from achieving our biggest dreams.

Pray or Listen to an Inspiring Song

When starting on a big dream fear is natural, when you feel that fear creeping in call on the Lord. Isaiah 55:6 tells is to “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near (ESV).” Fear is a tool of Satan to keep us from doing what we have been called to do. But if we call on the Lord, he is there with us and gives us power over our fears. “6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV).” The Lord loves and cares for us and wants us to come to him with our anxieties and fears. There is immense power in prayer and also in faith. We are told in James that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (5:16, NIV)” Jesus tells the disciples in Matthew “if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you (17:20, ESV.)”

I also rely on music. For me music can communicate when I don’t have the words. I actually have a playlist that is full of motivating and inspiring songs that I play when I am afraid or dealing with a lot of stress. I focus on the lyrics and let them be my prayer. They aren’t all Christian songs but they all have the same message of strength and perseverance. Depending on the situation I may also turn to hymns or praise songs. The point is finding a way to communicate what you are feeling. Don’t bottle it up, we have a wonderful savior who wants us to come to him and trust him with our struggles. Most recently I was having a panic attack while getting ready for work. I was in a position that I was miserable in and working with people who didn’t help the situation. The only thing I could do in that moment was start singing I Surrender All. I let this be my prayer in that moment and truly committed to the message of the lyrics and as soon as I surrendered my fears to the Lord, I could feel the panic subsiding and I found new strength that allowed me to continue on with my day.

Do It Anyway

“What is popular isn’t always right, what is right isn’t always popular (Albert Einstein).” There is so much truth in this statement. As Christians we are called to be separate from the world and yet continue to live in it (Romans 12:2). This isn’t always easy or popular especially in todays culture. But we cannot go wrong with following the call of Christ on our lives. Fear does not have to be a bad thing, let it drive you. The devil doesn’t like it when we follow the call of Christ on our lives in fact, he will stop at nothing to keep us from it. Take away his power and do it anyway. Doing what you have been called to do may be scary, but I assure you it is the right thing. You may be afraid because you don’t think you have what it takes but remember many people that have been called by God and gone on to do incredible things felt unqualified in the beginning as well. Moses, David and the Twelve are just a few. We have all heard it a few times but always remember “God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called (Rick Yancey).”

Conclusion

Don’t let fear rule your life. With the help of Christ you can overcome it and live the life he destined for you to live. If you first acknowledge that you are afraid, then call on the Lord for his help and finally do it anyway you will reap the rewards that only Christ can give you. It may not be an earthly gain but a heavenly one. Remember the message of Jeremiah 29:11 “11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (ESV).”

 

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