Many of us have gone through, or are currently in a phase where fright has gotten a hold of us. That feeling that makes you want to run or escape? that feeling is called FEAR.
Fear is said to be a feeling induced by perceived danger or a threat, which causes a change in metabolic and organ functions. It also causes a change in the behavior of an individual, thereby causing he/she to run, hide, or freeze on the spot due to the traumatic event.
Fear would always have negative effects on us, thereby causing more problems. Many physiological changes are also attributed to fear:
- It accelerates the breathing rate (hyperventilation), heart rate, blushing,
- increase in muscle tension including the muscles attached to each hair follicle to contract and causing “goose bumps”, or more clinical problems.
The opposite of Fear is Faith. Faith is a strong belief or trust in someone or something. The bible puts it as ‘Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’in Hebrew 11 verse 1.
The ‘message translation’ of the same scripture states that ‘The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living’. This particular definition negates the concept of fear in its entity.
Some common fears are as follows:
- Fear of the future
- Fear of death
- Fear of lack
- Fear of the unknown
Here are 3 ways to overcome Fear and have so much Faith that fear won’t find a space to dwell in your life.
1. STUDY THE WORD
I remember going through a rough patch at some point in my life and I was so scared. I had so much fear that I cried by just thinking about it. I decided to go down on my kneels to pray about it and as I did that all I could hear the Holy Spirit say to me was: “read your bible”.
So then I picked up my bible to study and all of a sudden I felt a kind of peace flow right into my heart that I just couldn’t fathom and after that I realized the fear was gone.
Here are a few scriptures that would help:
- 1 Corinthians 2:5 – That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
- Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God
- Corinthians 5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2. REWIRE YOUR BRAIN
Rewiring your brain is one of the surest ways to overcome your fears and develop the courage that is needed to get to where you want to go. Develop mantras and affirmations that build you up and increase your self-confidence. Read uplifting books to help interrupt the negative inner dialogue that goes on in your mind.
As a children, we were told the negative things that we could not do, be or have. If you don’t take the initiative to rewire your brain, life experiences will eventually do it for you.
3. TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH/ TRY NEW THINGS
Living in our comfort zone is not the best way to live. Not doing the things that frighten you will increase the likelihood that your fears will become bigger and eventually take over your life. You can start by doing something small, but make sure to do something daily that scares you.
Step out of your comfort zone and work on becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable. When you make it a habit of doing something daily that scares you, your courage grows little by little and soon enough, the barriers that were once holding you back will vanish and you will be able to maximize your potential tremendously.
Making the bold decision not to allow fear hold you back anymore is one of the best decisions you can make to ensure future success. It is not something that happens overnight, but taking intentional action and running towards your fears daily will give you a promising result in the long run.
Everything that you want in life is past your comfort zone. Don’t let fear be the reason for living a half-baked life.
Finally, because Jesus loves us, we can defeat the fears in our lives. We can overcome the feeling of “no one will understand” with an awareness of His love. Jesus promises that He will stick closer to us than a brother. Your fears may be very real, but, they do not need to control your life. Take control over your life by allowing Jesus Christ into your heart to help you.
