Dear Megan,
I have been battling crippling fear for sometime now and it is affecting my whole life. I know I am trying to control this myself and not fully giving this to God. I really need some guidance on how to get started with giving back to God what is not mine to take on. Can you help me begin to reclaim God’s truth on my fear? Bless you, KL
My Dear KL,
Thank you for taking this first step to reclaim your abundant life back and not live gripped by fear! You are so right… God does not intend for you to hold onto this fear and He longs for you to release it all to Him! I know, it’s not as easy as saying that so I pray that this post will give you the tools needed to begin to give all of your fear over to your Heavenly Father and begin to stand on His truth!
There are four types of fears:
- Fear of loss
- Fear of Failure
- Fear of Rejection
- Fear of the Unknown
Many people struggle with one or more of these fears and they can paralyze you and keep you from God’s best. When I begin to work with a client on fear, we focus on this Scripture:
2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
The world would like for us to believe that we have no control over our fears and that our only recourse is to totally avoid all fearful situations. However, with Christ alive inside of us, we KNOW this to be untrue! God asks us to stand in His strength when we’re afraid. As we focus on His perfect love, we will feel His perfect peace in the midst of every fear-producing situation.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Knowing the truth and acting on the truth is critical to conquering fear. The source of the truth is the One who said He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The primary resource we have for finding God’s truth is His Word, the Bible. The first step in applying truth is to identify the lies behind the fears you are experiencing as to replace those lies with facts. John 8:32 says “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
FEAR: “I can’t help this intense feeling on fear!”
FACT: “This feeling is a bluff to my mind and body. It is not grounded in truth.”
Psalm 27:3
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
FEAR: “I have this feeling of doom… a feeling that I am going to die.”
FACT: “The time of death is in God’s hands. I will choose to trust Him.”
Job 14:5
A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months
and have set limits he cannot exceed.
FEAR: “I’m afraid of what others are thinking about me.”
FACT: “My peace comes from pleasing God, not in pleasing man.”
2 Corinthians 5:9
So we make it our goal to please him
FEAR: “I am hopeless and can never change.”
FACT: “In Christ, I am a new person. Nothing is hopeless.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!
FEAR: “I am so nervous, I can’t think clearly.”
FACT: “God will guard my mind and give me peace.”
Philippians 4:7
Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
FEAR: “I feel trapped with no way of escape.”
FACT: “God always makes a way of escape.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Blessings,
Coach Megan 🙂
About Megan Smidt, CCLC
Thanks Megan, for this excellent advise filled with The Source of our hope and peace, God’s Word. 2 Tim 1:7, is a great help to me when I start to feel anxious or fearful. (And studying Girls with Swords planted it even deeper in my mind and heart.)
There’s an old chorus that also pops into my mind and helps me in times of anxiety and fear. It’s based on Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?” That is a powerful tool for me against the enemy of my soul!
Ah yes, Clella! Keep claiming God’s truth over every lie! There is no tool more powerful than the mighty Word of God!
thank you, coach megan! i just love the ‘fear/fact’ section! SO practical…and healing and delivering! <3
I’m glad you like it, Coleen! I pray you can use it or pass it on to someone who can 🙂
Megan, thank you so much for your words of wisdom! Fear can be such a debilitating thing sometimes; almost to the point in some situations that you freeze and cannot move beyond that fear! I used to be so afraid of everything when I was younger! I was afraid of what others thought of me to the point that it just made violently ill if someone thought badly of me. I was such a people pleaser! Fear was so bad in my Grandmother’s life that we all called her “chicken little” fearing the sky was falling all the time!! 🙂 I say that lovingly today, as I miss my grandma so very much! But anyway, thank you so much for the scriptures, and tips!
I pray this helps you if you find yourself in fear again <3
I too have lived with my share of fear in the past. Much less these days! I love the Fact vs. Fear aspect of this post, also. It makes the lesson so applicable! Thank you for another informative, encouraging post, Coach Megan!
I’m so happy this was a blessing to you, dear one! 🙂