“Peter did not feel very brave; indeed, he felt he was going to be sick. But that made no difference to what he had to do.”
-C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia
photo bydavemc500hats
Sadly, fear often plays a huge role in how our lives turn out. Many people fear and simply stop there.
This fear includes things like fearing what others will think, fear of feeling stupid, fear of getting hurt. We also fear hurting someone else, the fear of being uncomfortable. The list goes on and on.
We use fear as a compass for our lives and it guides us to be silent, unmovable, unchangeable, impenetrable, and cowardice.
Over the past year, I have started as Peter did in this quote to not let fear control me. I don’t feel very brave most days, but I don’t let that stop me. It doesn’t make a difference. What I need to do needs to be done whether I am afraid or not.
So, I just do it.
Most of us know what we need to do, we just fear the results.
Most times, fear is just a farce. It crumbles in the face of our determination. Fear is itself a coward.
“When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Question: Have you ever stepped up to the great bully of fear? How did it go?
Very inspirational words and thoughts here!
Thank you Thomas! That is much appreciated!
Silly as it sounds, I bought a $5 hat last week at the mall (like the kind you’d see a much older gentleman wearing) and just wore it around the mall while I was waiting on my wife to do her shopping. I don’t like to stand out like that (I even dislike wearing the color Orange for example!) since I’m a pretty conservative dresser, yet it was fun at the same time. My wife laughed when she saw it and thought it totally was out of my “style”, yet admired my desire to try something different. I wore it yesterday and ended up meeting some interesting new people at the ice cream shop. Was it the hat? Probably was more my chatty 6 year old but I think it made the folks open up a little.
Michael, way to step out and do something different! Sounds like you did your own IDC. 🙂
hahaha! I love that Michael! … I think it might have been the hat, or how the hat made you feel wearing it! Sounds fun either way 🙂
I’m facing the fears right now. Had the appraisal today on the house. He said he’d have the results on Monday. The inspection is over and all issues corrected. SO, if the appraisal goes well, the house will close on Aug 24. I’m applying like crazy for jobs in NC and trying to follow up with a phone call like Dan Miller says. It is incredibly difficult to get anyone to answer the phone these days 🙂 I’ve called some two or three times and when it went to their voice mail, I just hung up. I finally did leave a message for two since I just couldn’t reach them. Maybe this is a ploy to weed through unwanted calls. On two, I got a call back from the assistant at least. They said they would forward the info on to the powers that be. I’d love to have a position lined up so I could just move straight from this house to there. That’s my prayer and hope. All scary and especially at night, the doubts begin. Trying hard not to let them rule.
Donna,
Praying for courage and wisdom for you!
Looking back on the fear I have felt at various times, I believe the greatest one I faced is the day I was diagnosed with cancer. That was the fear of all fears in my book. Admittedly I allowed it to grip me initially, but later had a new resolve that it was not going to destroy me. Continually pressing into God’s peace, even when fear was right on it’s heel, helped me get through it all.
Cindy,
I can’t imagine! That fear could be completely gripping – if you let it (as you said)
What a beautiful story you have Cindy! I feel privileged to be able to hear it!
I feel like I step up to him daily! I try to remember something Joyce Meyer said a long time ago – when God says “fear not” He isn’t saying we are not to feel fear, it means we are to do it afraid! It’s ok to feel fear – we just have to not let it keep us from doing what we are called to do. So I try and remember that and just do it afraid!
OOOoooo I like that Ann. That is good advice from Joyce!