Responding to Fear
What is so difficult about it? Why are there tears? Why do they keep begging not to go?
It’s just swimming lessons. There are parents all around and an instructor in the pool to help guide them. Yet, kids cry through the entire experience. Not all of them. Just ours and maybe a couple of others. Some take to it like…well…a fish to water. Others, like my youngest two, believe they are being fed to a hungry pool of crocodiles.
There isn’t a real threat. Yes, water can be dangerous but there are 20 sets of eyes closely watching every move. Much of it was done in the shallow where they could touch the bottom of the pool. If their face goes under water it’s only for a moment. If something happened people would be there to help. There was legitimately no real threat. There was fear. And fear is a liar.
It causes us to procrastinate. It discourages us. It paralyzes us. Fear is a liar. Sure, God gave us the ability to take care of ourselves when we are in danger but Satan has hijacked the emergency response system of our brains - housed in the amygdala - and uses it against us more times than not. Paul told Timothy “for God did not give us a spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7). God gave us the ability to fear so that we can run, fight, or freeze when there is real danger. God never intended for the fear to be our default setting.
In fact, we often refer to Him as the God of peace (Romans 15:33; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Corinthians 13:11) and the God of comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). When Adam and Eve committed the initial sin in the garden do you remember what they did next? They hid themselves. Fear said to run from God when in fact God was who they needed most. Fear lied.
Many of my counseling hours are spent working with people in various phases of anxiety. It seems to be extremely prevalent today. Let me be clear, I do not believe that because one is anxious they are being disobedient to the Father. It is much more complicated than that. I do, however, believe that our fear system in our bodies is like everything else in the fallen world - it is broken because our world is broken.
God, however, has given us answers to the brokenness: Power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).
So how do power, love, and self-control help us to win? They change our focus in those moments of fear.
Power. Anxiety is a powerful event but it is not as powerful as God. Knowing that whatever situation we face pales in comparison to the abilities of God helps us reframe it. Anxiety can feel like Thor’s hammer sitting on our chest, crushing our lungs, and refusing us the tiniest of breaths. We can’t lift it. But God can. Focusing on his creation can lighten the weight. Even when counseling or medication is needed, it doesn’t take away from God’s power. He gave man the ability to discover the techniques and medications to help. You have the spirit of God’s power.
Love. He gave us a spirit of love to get us focused on helping others. With many difficult mental and physical health issues, shifting focus off ourselves and onto service to others can make a huge difference. You have the spirit of God’s love.
Self-Control. Depending on the translation you will either read self-control, sound mind, or discipline. All of which can be applied to this concept. God has given you the ability to self-regulate. One of the things I try to teach people - from kids to elderly - is to control their breathing and control their thoughts. It is not easy and it isn’t learned over night. But God has given us the ability to control our bodies more than we sometimes think. Even down to our heart rate. Controlled breathing can lower the heart rate and lessen anxiety.
So next time you feel like you are drowning beneath the weight of your daily tasks remember that fear is a liar and that God has given you a spirit of power, love, and self-control. And God’s Spirit is stronger than anything else we face.
Ben