FACING FEAR

Fear has the power to knock you off your feet. It has the ability to keep you from moving forward. And, left unchecked, fear has the ability to dominate one’s life. We were not created to carry fear and anxiety. Check out Dr. E. Stanley Jones observation on fear:

You are inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not our native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. We live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. When experiencing anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath--these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely--these are my native air. To live by worry is to live against reality. (Source unknown)

Below are a few tools I have adopted to increase my faith and confidence when fear, anxiety or doubt is present:

• Write it down – otherwise known as journaling. Take a short amount of time to think about where your anxiousness is come from. Write it down, and then go to the Word of God to identify a scripture that will help you in this area of your life. Write our type the verse(s) and contemplate on the truth of the Word. Say it out loud. Put it in your phone or write it on a card. It is always good to have it available to pull up when you need it.
• Pray – Prayer changes things. Once you identify the fear and find your scripture. Ask God to give you the strength to overcome what may be keeping you from advancing. Don’t give up. Prayer is powerful and has been a vital resource throughout my life.
• Exercise your Faith –Proverbs 3 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to our own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path. Once we write it down and pray, depending on God to manage the situation means letting go. This may be the most challenging aspect of our lives. I know it is for me, however, I have experienced God in the most difficult circumstances.
• Talk to someone – Nothing compares to having someone to share your challenges with. It could be a trusted friend, family member or professional. I have used all three sources over the course of my life and have benefitted tremendously from their guidance.

These are just a few approaches I have taken over the years to help me work through fear. Be assured that God is at work in every area of our lives, even when we are faced with anxiety, worry or doubt.

Which tools or resources have you used to overcome fear, anxiety or doubt?