Time to Boss Your Fear
A tale of terror.
When my boys were teens, we took them to an amusement park. I reluctantly agreed to accompany them on a roller coaster ride.
It was one of those big, old, wooden monstrosities. The kind of rollercoaster that
shakes and tosses you around inside the cart until your sunglasses fly off your face and most of the contents of your purse fall into the abyss below the tracks.
As the roller coaster thrashed us about, fear crawled up the back of my throat and the only thought in my head was I am going to die!!!!!
“This is terrifying!” I shrieked to my son. “I hate this. How do I make it stop!”
“You can’t stop it, Mama. You just gotta do it scared!” my son yelled back.
There was nothing to do but hang on and ride it out.
Rationally, I knew that millions of people had survived the ride, but at that moment it didn’t feel like I was going to.
Are you being shaken?
Maybe that’s how you feel now. Like you’re being rattled and shaken and tossed about and that you’re not going to make it.
Fear creeps up on you and your mind is filled with Why’s and What if’s?
That’s the ugly, scary part of fear. The powerful unknown. Fear wants to paralyze you so you do nothing but worry and fret.
The Bible says to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV) Make your thoughts – the very things that are wrecking havoc on your emotions, obedient to Christ.
When the enemy of your heart, soul and mind can paralyze you so that you don’t remember God IS in control and nothing is impossible with Him, he has successfully taken you captive.
Boss your fear.
Girlfriend, if there was something you could do to stop or thwart the thing causing fear or worry, you would, right? Since there is not, you have to face down your fears — and make them submit!!!
One way I boss my fear is to follow the trail of fear to the end. I ask myself, “What is the very worst thing that could happen?” It may be unpleasant, but it’s likely survivable.
Speak it out!
Fear is from the pit of hell, not the throne room of Heaven. Tell your fears about God. Remind your fears of that. Tell them God is all powerful. He is not distant. Your God can do the impossible. Send those fears packing.
There is something about speaking the fears out loud that lets God’s truth shine. When you speak the troubles out loud, your mind and heart and the Holy Spirit figure out how to deal with them. God will be present with you and where He is, there is Peace.
Invite a friend into the process.
Walking through a moment or season with a friend will help you keep your balance. She can counter your unhealthy self-talk and bring reason to all your conversations. You would be her sound board, guardian and armor-bearer, so do not hesitate to call in reinforcements.
Your turn.
I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment about how you have faced down your fears … or plan to.
Verse for today: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Prayer: Oh God, there is so much unrest in our world today. Hurricanes and fires and riots and disease. Lord, make me brave so I can face down my fears and put on your peace. I need you more than ever. In Jesus Name amen.
Don’t let another moment be stolen from you because of fear, worry or anxiety.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)