A recent study by Chapman University revealed Americans wrestle with more fears than you might expect. Top concerns include crime, talking to strangers, romantic rejection, terrorism, natural disasters, public speaking, dying, and going bankrupt.
Oh, and I almost forgot: clowns. Nearly seven percent of us experience angst around make-up wearing entertainers.
Did you resonate with an item on that list? I do.
Fear slips into my life more than I realize. The anxiety affects my body. Five years ago, I began wearing a night guard to protect my teeth from grinding. Sometimes I nibble on the inside of my cheek until I develop blood blisters. Under stress, I’ll scratch at scabs until they leave scars.
I’m not the only one.
One friend plucks his hair out by the roots. Another picks at her cuticles until her fingers develop open sores. Insomnia plagues another. Some fear-induced habits are subtler, but most of us have at least one. Not only does fear hurt, but it causes us to hurt ourselves.
Whenever we feel out of control, we resort to coping mechanisms to regain a sense of control. Fear poisons our bodies and singes our souls.
Fear transforms us from trusting followers to control freaks. We morph into bossy micromanagers no matter who we’re dealing with—family, friends, or co-workers—nothing is ever done right.
Even worse, fear refuses change, since altering a circumstance or inviting a miracle pushes us even further from control and ignites in us the most basic human dread: fear of the unknown.
One of most frequent command in the Bible is: “Do not be afraid.” Or as it is stated in other places: “don’t tremble,” “take courage,” and “be strong and courageous.”
God instructs Abraham: Don’t be afraid. Moses hears: Do not be frightened. David is told: Do not fear. Joshua passes encouragement to the Israelites: Don’t be afraid or discouraged. The angel admonishes Mary: Don’t tremble. Jesus preaches the message to live without fear. God exhorts Israel to live fearless through the prophet Isaiah. Paul instructs the entire Philippian church to not be afraid.
All flesh-and-bone earthlings—even those history proclaims heroes—are prone to be afraid. When you find yourself paralyzed by fear, read these words slowly:
I.
Am.
Not.
Alone.
You are joined by me, my friends. Moses, King David, and all those who shudder at the sight of Ronald McDonald.
We live in a world riddled with fear—being laid off, being sued, being diagnosed. Fear drives the news and shapes our entertainment.
We can choose to live afraid all of the time.
But fear is not the only option.
When Jesus appears to the disciples walking on the water, they are terrified because they think they’ve encountered a ghost. Matthew tells us they “cried out in fear.” Coping with fear requires confessing your fear. And confessing your fear is the first step to taking refuge in God.
Jesus hears and comforts them by saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27, NASB).
Some view fear as a source of shame. They consider any fear a weakness, a lack faith in God. But for Jesus, fear provides an opportunity to instill courage and remind his disciples that they aren’t alone. The same is true for us.
Ridding ourselves of fear means resting ourselves in Jesus’ presence.
Every fear issues an invitation to draw near.
When it comes to your fears, do not be afraid. You are not alone in them, and they are not shameful. God wants to be your refuge. On the darkest nights when you can’t see through the fog, open your mouth and confess your concerns. Then start squinting. You might just discover someone striding across the water to meet you there.
Flourish Today: Stop right now and consider what you fear most. Name them out loud and invite Christ into those places of fear.
This Week’s Prayer: Father, please walk into the places where I am most afraid and help me to take courage. Amen.
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Praise Jesus. I needed this today. I have began a new journey taking on the role of care giver for my parents and a new supervisory job. Although exhausting at times, I feel the Lord has put me in these positions for His good and he will give me the grace to see me through.
Give grace to your parents also Renae as I have been the only caregiver of my Mom’s for the last 5 years and the toughest thing for me has been her thoughts of decision making or so different than mine. I have a hard time being respectfully sometimes to her and her way of life. Blessings on this very caring ministry you are embarking on Renae.
That is so true. I am also taking care of two small dogs and have to walk back home 20 minutes. God has blessed me in different ways. He has opened the doors for me to babysit kids and now takingcare of these dogs for a month. I am so honored and I hope u will be encouraged too.
May you enter your new positions with Christ instead of fear! Huge hug!
I too have taken on the role of care giver for my MOM and a new job.
Thank you for todays words. I. AM. NOT. ALONE.
thank goodness “fear is not the only option”!! ?
Fear of the unknown bothers me sometimes so much I am afraid to try something new. What if? Will my age keep me from performing as well as a younger person? I feel like my experiences in my life could help others but will others even listen to what I gave to say?
Margaret your words are wise and thoughtful. God is truly our refuge. I will work hard with God’s help and your thoughts of encouragement Margaret to overcome my fears.
Prayers as you continue to turn your fears over to Christ and seek His presence! Hugs!
I just received the book Flourish in the mail. Great book and I love the prayers!
I also had to start wearing a mouth guard this past year and tend to chew on the inside of my cheek. My dentist asked me if I was stressed. Guess that I am! Thanks for sharing.
Menopause and my husbands diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease are getting to me.
Love your books. They are real. Blessings.
Prayers for you as you learn to let go of the stress and invite Christ to walk daily with you! Hugs!
My son, David, who is 42, has serious health problems. One of them being his heart and he may need a pacemaker. He’s going for a stress test tomorrow. My greatest fear…is him not being around anymore. He also has sleep apnea and that is taking a tremendous toll on his body and his life. He is exhausted all the time and has to work a full time job in addition to being the pastor of our tiny church. We need a miracle of healing. Needless to say, this has taken a toll on me and the slightest thing with him sends me into a panic with tears running down my face. Yes, I need Jesus, big time, to take this stress off of my heart and to heal David, too. Count me in on living fearless in 2017.
Prayers for you, Christine, as you learn to turn your fears over to Christ! May He be the comfort you are seeking. Huge hug!
I keep being reminded today about fear, something I have struggled with my entire life, and now this. While journaling this morning I realized just how wound tight I am by fear, the terrible way it steals from my relationship with Jesus, others and intrudes in my life. Thank you for being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and being used by the Lord to bless others, Margaret. God bless you more and more.
Recognizing the fear is a huge step! Prayers you are able to move past it and seek Christ in those moments of fear. Hugs!
A good way to start the day is to ask God to take your fears, anxieties and worries into His hands and keep them far from you. I thank Him for the new day first. It helps a lot.
Thank you for sharing, Nancy! Hugs!
I know your target audience seems to appeal primarily to women, but I find such hope from your words! So thankful for this group and your ministry – thanking God for servants like you.
Thank you for the encouragement, John!