Estimated reading time: 7 minute(s)
Originally published 5.31.11
The other day I read a quote that says “Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death.â€
Fear is defined as “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.â€
We are all being challenged by our fears in some way—whether it is paying bills, getting or losing a job, taking on a new challenge, bad relationships, or embracing necessary change. Fear, when not met head on, restricts human beings from completely being who God wants them to be, because He created us to fear nothing or no one in creation except Him.
Is God worthy to be feared? I think so, because He is the Creator and Master of everything we see. And the fear of God alone actually opens up vaults for us. In Proverbs 9:10 it reads “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.â€
When we allow other people and things to make us afraid they actually become our master. We become restricted, boxed in, cowardly, immobile and even paralyzed by the stagnation born out of our submission to those things that aren’t worthy of worship.
Are we compromising our values for the sake of keeping a job? Are we running when we’re brought face to face with something we have feared for years? Do we doubt that we can be successful in life despite saying we believe in God? (By whatever name you call Him)
As a child we had a curious mind. We would have never known we could walk until we took that first step and fell down. That initial fall didn’t produce more fear, it increased our faith that we could take more steps—especially if we saw a bright ball sitting across the room to play with. That desire fed our Will and starved our fears of falling again.
Am I saying we won’t be made afraid at all? Of course not! If we went home right now, headed upstairs and saw a grizzly bear sitting on our steps–that surely would bring a hint of initial fear inside. Our heart might start beating a little faster as the bear stares us down.
Metaphorically, we have a lot of grizzly bears in our paths. In my continued study of Dianetics, I’ve learned we have five alternatives: (1) Attack, (2) Flee, (3) Avoid (4) Neglect or (5) Succumb.
Attack your fears and starve them out!!!
(You’re welcome to follow Brother Jesse Muhammad on Twitter @BrotherJesse, friend him on Facebook and visit his award-winning Brother Jesse Blog http://jessemuhammad.blogs.finalcall.com)