I feel like I’m constantly overcoming fear in my life.
Getting back in the water, surfing again, becoming a mom, learning how to be a good and loving parent and wife are just a few.
Fear is such a powerful emotion and it has the ability to completely stop us in our tracks. It totally hinders us from pursuing the good and beautiful things in life. While fear is completely natural, it’s our job not to let it have the final say in our decisions and actions. We miss out on so much that God has for us if we live in fear!
Here are 3 steps to overcome your fears:
1. Stay Grounded in Truth
Reading the Bible and praying is the most helpful thing for me when I’m scared. There’s so much that God says in His Word about not being afraid, being strong and courageous and trusting in Him despite our uncertainties. Obviously, it’s a bit easier said than done, but we can at least have verses in our minds that remind us that God is with us. We can also pray and ask Him to help us get past our fears.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
2. Talk to a Friend
Don’t hold all your fears inside! When we do, it turns into a mental block thats really hard to get over. Especially, if it’s something really big, go get help. You don’t necessarily need to go to therapy, but find someone that has wisdom and opinions you value and see what they have to say about your situation. If they are level-headed, they might see things with a clearer perspective.
Sometimes we need someone to say, “hey, I know you’re scared, but you don’t need to be because I think you’re totally going to rock it”. That encouragement can give us such a boost!
3. Replace Your Fear
Our mental patterns have so much influence on us and we need to change them. Often our fears are things that we’ve completely built up in our heads. First, recognize the fear and then replace it with scripture or another truth. For example, maybe you’re afraid that if you don’t meet your goal or if you make a mistake, God will love you less. You can remind yourself that the truth is that nothing you can do will diminish God’s love for you. Then find a verse to keep in your mind that proclaims this truth, like this:
“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.” Romans 8:38
I encourage you to start overcoming your fears today! While it isn’t always easy, we can do it, especially with the help of God, wise friends and the reminder of truth.
