Fear

When it comes to fear you have a decision to make: (1) You are going to allow the fear to consume you thereby stopping you from achieving your goals, or (2) You are going to let the fear pass through and over you, and then use the adrenaline it produces to your advantage. No matter whether you are a pro at something or just a beginner, fear affects us all, but what you do with that fear is what separates the expert from the novice.

During my dress rehearsal a few weeks back, I allowed fear to get the better of me. I was afraid that I was going to forget the words that I had memorized and sang at least a few hundred times. So what did I do? What I did wrong, was to go into my own mind and start repeating the words over and over and over again. This only caused my anxiety to escalate.

What should I have done instead? That is a great question, and one I've been wrestling with since then. The best answer I came up with is this...

The opposite of fear is TRUST. But what am I supposed to trust in? I found the answer in Joshua 1:9. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." I just love the phrase... Have I not commanded you. That means being strong and courageous, and not being afraid, is a choice. It is a decision you make, and not just something that is happening to you. You are in control, not fear. But then it gives us the reason as to why we should make the decision to be strong, and that is the the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Pretty much, it's saying that you are not alone, and that the God that created and controls the universe is with you. That is why you can be strong and courageous and overcome fear.

Now whenever I feel fear creeping up on me, I quote this Bible verse, and remind myself that fear has no place in my life.