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 🙂
