The Cure for Your Fear

The Cure for Your Fear

Your fear doesn’t have to hold you back. In fact, some of the most amazing world-changers started out with some of the most debilitating fear of people.

Yet, if the fear of people is something you struggle with, you’re probably using it as an excuse.

Moses did. When God approached him with the assignment of a lifetime, he tried to sidestep it. Ever done that? In this case, the children of Israel had been in bondage to the Egyptians and God met Moses at the burning bush to turn him into a great emancipator. “But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11, NLT). And this fear almost kept Moses from his destiny. But as it turns out, there was something Moses feared even more than Pharaoh.

The same thing has been true of most people in history who have attempted anything great. Name your favorite hero and you can be sure they faced the giant of fear in a big way.

For me personally, fear has been a lifelong struggle. As a mild introvert and an over-thinker, I’ve often felt paralyzed just before any big venture or risk. The crazy thing is that fear is mostly a trick. The real definition of fear is “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat” (Dictionary.com). Honestly, for me it has usually been about what people might think - not whether I’m going to be attacked by a saber-toothed Tiger.

Question: What are you really afraid of?

Chances are, it’s disapproval. And if you really think about it - disapproval is unavoidable no matter what you do.

So what’s the cure for fear? How do you get past your hesitation so you can step into a bigger and better life?

ONE SIMPLE SHIFT

The only thing you need to do in order to overcome your fear is to change what you’re afraid of. the Bible says, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety” (Proverbs 29:25, NLT). And “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom” (Psalm 111:10, NLT). Bible scholars tell us that this word “fear” means reverence, awe, respect. It’s true that when God wants to bring down judgment it’s a scary scene. And we all want to avoid that. But fear goes deeper than that. At its core it is being more concerned with what God thinks about you than anyone else. It’s living for an audience of One. In that case, you’re more afraid of missing out on God’s purpose for you than anything else. And that’s the healthy kind of fear.

Maybe part of what’s holding you back - or any of us - is not having a clear and compelling sense of God’s purpose for our lives. But what if you knew that what lies before you would be the absolute greatest thing imaginable? I bet you’d be willing to risk for it.

That’s why God told Joshua, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, NLT).

If you’re the kind of person that wants to move forward into your God-given future, I’d love to help. Check out my free guide to get you started: From Frustration to Fulfillment.