3 Signs You’re Living in Fear 😞

You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” Lamentations 3:57

The truth is, we all deal with fear on some level. Every faith leader or congregant I’ve ever met deals with fear. Having courage doesn’t mean you have no fear…courage is choosing to do the right thing in spite of fear.

But sometimes, we move from experiencing moments of fear, to being under the control of fear. There’s a big difference.

And there’s no shortage of things to fear:

Fear of the unknown
Fear of rejection
Fear of failure
Fear of backlash
Fear of financial ruin
Fear of illness or death

We have to deal with fear before it becomes our master.

Here are 3 signs fear is in control:

1. Avoidance

Fear can be a powerful motivator. It can also get in the way of your happiness. The trick is to decide which way it’s going to go for you. If you’re afraid of change, and fear is keeping you from making progress, then fear is in control. You need to make a choice: do you want to be paralyzed by fear, or do you want to trust the Lord and make a change? In order to win this battle, we must first identify what we’re afraid of, and then face those fears head-on. This can be tricky business; after all, it’s hard to know what exactly scares us until we face it!

2. Overreaction

Do you find yourself reacting harshly to your kids or spouse? Do you drive aggressively or spend recklessly? Or maybe eating is your coping mechanism (you ate the whole package of Oreos…again). When fear takes control of one area of your life, other areas can spin out of control, as an outlet for the stress. It’s completely understandable! No human is capable of suppressing all that tension. Your next step isn’t shame, avoidance, and it’s certainly not yet another package of Oreos! The best next step is to admit to yourself what’s really going on. “I snapped at the kids because I need to make a job change but I’m too scared.” And then find someone to talk through taking back control of your life.

3. Hopelessness

As followers of Christ, we are marked by never-ending hope. But when fear is in control, we can lose that hope. This may be the worst reality of all. I’ve heard it said, “Man can live one week without food, three days without water, and one minute without air. But man cannot live one second without hope.” It’s time to identify what is causing you to fear, and then bring people into your life who can help you navigate your way past the fear, taking back control.

Remember, we all deal with fear. It’s (a very unfortunate) part of the human experience. But never let fear take control. And don’t face it alone. Invite people into your places of fear, and let the Holy Spirit free you and move you into places of freedom.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” -2 Timothy 1:7