6 Ways to Overcome Fear
The last time we met, we stood at the gate. Our brave girl lifted the latch and faced her fear. We don’t know what was waiting for her on the other side of the fence, but we know that she needed to plant her feet firmly in the ground, guard her body, and arm herself for protection. What if I told you the resistance she experienced was more than a fear of change, moving out of comfort zones, or trying something new? What if instead of the wind rustling the leaves, a beady eyed foe was waiting for her in the shadows?
When I pictured the fence, I thought of 1 Peter 5:8 where we are told to be watchful because the devil prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I pictured him looking for a weakness in the fence. As someone that believes in what we can’t see, I feel this tension to be vulnerable but not frightening. However, I am struggling to make peace with the plans for my life and the expectations of my family.
Since my return home from the She Speaks conference, I feel as though the needs of those around me have doubled. Each breath of life that went into my passion seemed to inflate and expand the needs of my husband and kids. I don’t have enough air in my lungs to fill all of these places. One by one, the ideas began to fade as though they were just a dream or plans for someone else’s story. I felt as though I was planting wisdom and purpose, but growing challenges and discontent. I was planting truth and growing lies. It was frustrating and I allowed fear to slow me down in my personal growth. I know I’m not alone in this.
I’ve known fear by many names throughout my life and it has always been one of the biggest motivators in my mediocrity. Worry, regret, uncertainty, anxiety, skepticism. I use it to avoid pain and disappointment. What if I fail? What if I’m criticized? What if I push people away? I can’t do this. The fear I have recently experienced is different, though. Much like the lion, it was pressing in on me, not coming out of me.
In Part one, we explored homeostasis (or comfort zones) and making small adjustments, one at a time to gain the momentum to make a difference in your life. In Part two, we will acknowledge that resistance is outside our control, but there are ways for us to discern the best response to it.
What if I told you that freedom is waiting on the other side of fear? Do you want to expose fear and eliminate its grip on you? There are six tools you can begin implementing in your life right now TODAY.
What Works:
Truth Goodness Peace Hope Restoration/Protection Trusted Resource
You may recognize this list from Ephesians 6:10-17. They are described as the full armor of God and are incredibly helpful when facing resistance of many kinds. I listed them under synonyms NOT because God needs my help naming attributes. He does NOT. I love the parallel between what we’re looking for and what is being offered to us. As you read the following list and the verses attached, consider how each of these look in your own life.
Truth / Belt of Truth
Believing in the authenticity of the Bible. Behaving with honesty and integrity. When we’re overpowered by lies, we use truth to disprove them and render them powerless. Our character matters and we become less trustworthy when our words and actions don’t line up.
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”
Goodness / Breastplate of righteousness
We guard our hearts by seeking goodness in our lives. Righteousness is the result of loving, accepting, and following Jesus. True goodness is not about being likable or nice. It’s a result of turning away from evil and turning toward the things that show the world God’s goodness.
Psalm 139:23, 24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!”
Peace / Feet ready with the Gospel of Peace
If I’m not standing firmly in peace, I will be easy to take down. The opposite of peace is divisiveness and two feet going in different directions will cause serious trouble for a body! We must not allow differences to prevent us from sharing the Gospel or living it out.
Ephesians 4:26, 27 “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Hope / The Shield of Faith
We are hopeful and want to believe in the best for our lives. Having faith takes it to the next level, where our hope is grounded in what the Bible says and our experiences. Faith is choosing to remember the ways God has stepped in and proclaiming the promises that He will continue to do so.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Restoration/Protection / The Helmet of Salvation
In our brokenness, we are restored through relationship with Jesus and nothing can separate us from His love. We have impenetrable protection in Him.
Romans 8:38, 39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Trusted resource / The Sword of the Spirit
The Bible provides all of the confidence we need when we face resistance. We see examples that still apply today. We see a storyline that is historically consistent and accurate. The authors are pretty average for the most part, but have extraordinary encounters that work together to paint a picture of the same God. Listen, I can’t even lead a Pinterest party and have everyone follow the instructions for a simple project without adding their flare or doing their thing. If these encounters were false, we would’ve seen at least a few outliers along the way. A book that is meant to guide and protect us is worth reading, memorizing, and sharing when the time is right. It is most definitely a great defense against whatever threat or uncertainty we face.
2 Timothy 3:16, 17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Imagine our brave girl traveling out into the wild, far beyond civilization. The city lights are no longer able to dim the beauty of the night sky. There she finds a place where the stars appear to rip open the sky with colorful explosions. The vastness of the sky and the endless reach of the stars confirmed what she had believed all along. All of the time spent in the unknown was worth this moment of stillness and brilliance.
