HAVING A DETERMINED EFFORT TO OVERCOME ANXIETY & FEAR
KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Fear is one of the greatest enemies of progress. It can paralyse your faith, distort your thinking, delay your decisions and make you abandon possibilities before you even attempt them.
Job 3:25 says, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.”
This teaches us that fear can become so powerful in our minds that we begin to live under the influence of what we are afraid of. Therefore, we must make a determined effort to overcome anxiety and fear.
1. THE FEAR OF SURVIVAL. 2 kings 4:17
The Shunammite woman received a miraculous promise, but a crisis later came to her house. Her situation could have destroyed her confidence, but she refused to surrender to fear.
The fear of survival asks:
“How will I survive?”
“How will I pay my bills?”
“How will I take care of my family?”
“What will happen tomorrow?”
But God is our Source. Your present situation is not the final chapter of your life.
Do not allow the fear of survival to make you abandon your purpose. Take responsibility, trust God, seek wisdom, and keep moving.
2. THE FEAR OF ACCEPTANCE
Many people are afraid of being rejected, criticised, misunderstood or not accepted by others.
The fear of acceptance can make you suppress your gifts, abandon your convictions and live according to people’s opinions.
You cannot fulfil God’s purpose for your life if your greatest concern is pleasing everybody.
Galatians 1:10 reminds us that our ultimate responsibility is to please God, not live for human approval.
You don’t need everybody to believe in you before you believe in what God has placed inside you.
3. THE FEAR OF SICKNESS
Sometimes people are not only afraid of sickness; they are afraid of what they think sickness might mean.
This fear can prevent people from seeking proper information or medical attention.
It is better to go for a check-up than to wait until you need admission.
Do not allow fear to keep you away from the information you need. When something concerns your health, seek appropriate professional medical care, get the facts and take responsible action.
Knowledge should replace unnecessary anxiety and faith should replace panic.
HOW DO I FIGHT MY FEAR?
1. IDENTIFY YOUR FEAR
You cannot confront what you refuse to acknowledge.
Ask yourself:
“What exactly am I afraid of?”
Name it. Face it. Bring it into the light.
Sometimes, the moment you identify the fear, you discover that it is not as powerful as your mind made it appear.
2. GET INFORMATION
Ignorance can magnify fear.
Get the right information. Ask questions. Learn. Seek wise counsel. Understand what you are dealing with.
Information does not replace faith; it helps you make informed decisions while exercising faith.
3. PREPARE YOUR MINDSET FOR POSSIBILITIES
Proverbs 23:7 teaches that as a person thinks in their heart, so are they.
Your mind is a battlefield.
If you constantly tell yourself, “I cannot,” “It will never work,” “Something bad will happen,” you may begin to live according to those expectations.
Instead, condition your mind for God’s possibilities.
Say:
“I can overcome this.”
“There is a way forward.”
“I will not be ruled by fear.”
“God is with me.”
“I will take the next right step.”
4. TAKE ACTION
Fear grows when you remain inactive.
You may not have all the answers, but take the next step you can take.
Prayer is powerful but prayer should also produce movement.
Don’t sit down waiting for fear to disappear before you act. Act despite the fear.
Courage is not the absence of fear; courage is choosing to move forward despite fear.
5. START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
Stop waiting until everything is perfect.
Start with what is in your hand. Start with the knowledge you have. Start with the opportunity before you. Start small, but start.
Remember Moses and the rod in his hand. Remember the widow and the little oil she had.
What you have may look small but when surrendered to God and combined with determined action, it can become the beginning of something great.
FIGHT YOUR FEARS!
Fear may knock at your door, but you don’t have to invite it in.
Anxiety may speak, but you don’t have to agree with it.
Circumstances may challenge you, but you don’t have to surrender to them.
Today, make a decision:
I WILL IDENTIFY MY FEAR.
I WILL GET THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
I WILL RENEW MY MIND.
I WILL TAKE ACTION.
I WILL START WITH WHAT I HAVE.
I WILL TRUST GOD FOR THE POSSIBILITIES AHEAD.
Fear will not determine my future.
Fear will not paralyse my purpose.
Fear will not stop my progress.
I AM DETERMINED TO OVERCOME ANXIETY AND FEAR!
