No one wants to be afraid. Fear can be paralyzing. But it can also help to activate us toward courage and faith, if we identify it and bring it before the Lord. Often in Scripture we are commanded, Do not fear, or do not be afraid. God, angels, Jesus…they all said it. Unfortunately, we take the wrong lesson from their exhortation, and pretend we’re not afraid, and push “the thing” away from us, or avoid it, instead of dealing with it head on and asking God to help us.
Take public speaking – one of those things people say they are most afraid. I’ve read that fear of public speaking ranks right up there with fear of dying. But is it really fear of speaking, or is it the fear of failing, or fear of being incompetent, or having people disagree with us, or the fear of having people stare at us and not like something they see. So, the fear is really about sounding or looking “less than” in other people’s eyes. And that fear is related to the fact that (perhaps) I care too much about what others think of me. I want their approval, and I want people to think I’m competent, and decent looking enough that they aren’t sitting there thinking, “oh my god, what is this horrid thing in front of me making sounds“.
Fear can keep us from saying yes to Go, Do, Say, and Give whatever God wants of us, and experiencing real freedom. What He wants may seem impossible. But often, it’s very doable. It just may feel risky. And one of the risks is the risk of the disapproval of others. They might not understand or agree with us, or they might not like us if we ______.
Every little step of obedience can force us to face a fear. Try not to avoid it or push it away, or pretend its not there. Ask the next question for yourself: What is this fear really about? And ask God why that next thing beneath the fear is really so important and possibly scary to you.
We really only need to live for the approval of One. And that One will give us the courage to face our fears and follow Him. That is the real freedom in surrender to Jesus. When fear of others doesn’t inhibit us from living out the best version of ourselves.
In reading your article, it’s made me realize how we can fall prey to fear so easily, just by trusting in ourselves and not God. Thank you for helping me trust more in my Savior than myself.
Vera
Thank you for writing such a transparent article. Blessings to you.
I’m sorry, but I have never heard of you until I used your devotional “Go, Do, Say, Give” on my phone app. I loved it! I want to get the book and study it with a young teenage friend of mine (I’m 65). However, I’d like to know a little more about what you believe personally about Jesus, the Bible, etc. where can I find this information?
Hi Anne,
I’m so sorry I never replied to you. The last 6 months have been incredibly busy in my role with Cru/Jesus Film Project. I’m encouraged that you liked the devotional, and hope that you and the person you are mentoring would find the book helpful. Here is a link to the statement of faith I have signed as a staff member with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ). https://www.cru.org/us/en/about/statement-of-faith.html. Blessings to you. Keith
Wow! This is so good! And it’s my life lol thank you for this conviction and encouragement! God bless you, Kieth!
Life Changing for the year to come Thank you
Esmu nācis,kā daudzi no pašas apakšējās ciešanu vietas,bet joprojām esmu dzīvs un man devīze ir_tikai un vienīgi tu Jēzu!,arī tad kad baidos,šaubos,viļos sevī un citos.Bailes Tēvs pieļauj,lai Jēzus manī tās uzvarētu. Nekāpšu uz ringā,lai mani boksētu,bet,lai uzvarētu ,.jā,man sāp ka varbūt manu baiļu dēļ, Baznīca ir sieviešu pulcēšanās vieta
Thank you Dainis for your comment. I used google translator, and still not sure I completely understand. But let me encourage you to pray to find a group of Jesus followers in your country. Sometimes they are in a church, sometimes just meeting in home groups that study the Bible and pray together. God will lead you to those who know and follow Him with their wholeheart. I also recommend you download on your phone (or look online) at the Jesus Film Project app for free. You can find in your language a film on the life of Jesus that will encourage you.
Thank you, Keith. I too did the devotional on the bible app, and it was a blessing. You hit the nail on the head with this article though, as I live my entire life based on what others will think of or say about me. It very hard to follow Christ and wanting to please Him alone, and be this way. I don’t know how NOT to live this way. Help!!
Jane, Thanks for sharing that so honestly, and I’m sorry I delayed so long in responding. I don’t think any of us naturally know how to live this way. It truly is a daily walk of yielding and then discovering I’m not yielding, that I’m too concerned about what someone else might think, or their approval. Fear of man or fear of God is what we will battle our way through. I think as we fall in love more with Jesus, what He thinks about us will be more important than what others think about us. But don’t be too hard on yourself. Jesus loves you and knows the struggle, and is not surprised at all by it. He knows the human heart better than we do, and He died for us knowing we are all easily distracted from Him.