Face Fear to Defeat Fear

Fear is an interesting enemy. We don’t see it, we feel it. We can’t grab it, but it can grab us. We can’t see the prison bars, but it can put us in a prison.

Fear is a real enemy that can paralyze our lives, and in the end, it can stop any forward movement.

I’ve felt the paralyzing force of fear, and I’ve seen its impact on my extended family. I’ve been shocked how the same fears over and over again can continue to damage our lives and cause us to react the same way, again and again.

Have you been here before?

We all have to decide what to do with fear.

If we choose not to fight it, we will be defeated and paralyzed in its prison. If we fight the wrong way, we can wear ourselves down and miss out on the victory God has for us.

Fighting fear the wrong way can be ignoring it and refusing to discuss it. Another way of fighting fear wrong is using willpower as the source of resistance. One more way to fight fear wrong is numbing it out with alcohol, drugs, illicit behavior, and more. These are simply coping mechanisms that fail to help defeat fear in our lives.

I believe it’s important to remember that God doesn’t give us fear, but rather, he empowers us to overcome it.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬

So how do we fight fear and win?

We face fear to defeat fear.

Fear is a bully, and he’s daring someone to step up and take him on. When we don’t face it, fear gets stronger and more dominant in our lives.

When we do face fear, it will back down because there’s no substance in its threats. I once heard an acronym for fear; False Evidence Appearing Real. That’s right, fear is a lie, and the sooner we face it, the sooner we overcome it.

So how do we face fear?

First, we discuss with God and someone we trust, what we’re afraid of.

This is big, because once we articulate the fear, it loses its power. When we keep fear locked away in our hearts and minds, it gains power. When we expose it, we take away its power. Sometimes it can totally be broken by just saying it out loud to God and someone you trust.

Don’t be afraid to talk about what you’re afraid of. God moves when we bring it in the light.

Second, do the thing you’re afraid of doing. If you’re afraid to drive, drive a car. If you’re afraid to fly in an airplane, take a plane somewhere. If you’re afraid to go to college, go to college. If you’re afraid to apply for that job, apply for that job.

These are examples of how we overcome fear. This is how we prove fear to be a liar and overcome it. Every time I’ve been tempted to shut down in fear, I pray about it, and then I do the thing I’m afraid of.

Each time I’ve done this, victory has come to me, and I’ve defeated the thing that tried to defeat me.

Third, get Bible verses about overcoming fear and put them in your heart.

We do this by reading them, praying them, and memorizing them. When we put God’s truth in our lives, it exposes the lies that try to come into our lives.

Whatever we’re putting in us, is what will come out of us. This shows up most when we face a crisis, or an overwhelming attack of fear.

This is why we must choose to face our fear!

We stare it in the face and declare God’s word over us. We bully the bully. We torment the tormentor. We mock the mocker and tell him to go.

This is what we do because when we face fear, we defeat fear!!

What are you afraid of today?

I encourage you to face it! The victory comes after we face it.

God is with you, and fear will not win!

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬

The best is yet to come,
PD