Just in case you didn’t download Seth’s awesomely free “What Matters Now” eBook, I thought I’d share my contribution which is an essay titled “Fear.” It’s adapted from my new book.
Have you ever wondered who?s behind that little?voice in your head that tells you, ?you?re in this by?yourself, one person doesn?t make a difference, so?why even try??
His name is Fear.
Fear plays the role of antagonist?in the story of your life. You must rid yourself of
him using all necessary means.
We?re often impressed by those who appear to be?fearless. The people who fly to the moon. Chase?tornadoes. Enter dangerous war zones. Skydive.?Speak in front of thousands of people. Stand up to?cancer. Raise money and adopt a child that isn?t?their flesh and blood.
So, why are we so inspired by them?
Because deep down, we are them.
We all share the same characteristics.
We?re all divinely human.
Until Fear is gone, (and realize he may never?completely leave) make the decision to be?courageous.
The world needs your story in order to?be complete.—–
Comments
31 responses to “Fear plays the Role of Antagonist in the Story of Your Life”
One big loud thunderous AMEN to you, Anne, for speaking the truth.
We know that the author of fear is satan, and that satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Let’s not give him the time of day.
LOVE.THIS.POST.
Wow…great thoughts Anne. I can remember times when I felt I was little more than a walk-on, non-speaking role in the play of life. It’s hard sometimes to accept my story needs to be told.
.-= Jason?s last blog ..All I Want For Christmas Is To Stop Being Raped =-.
This was absolutely wonderful. Needed this today!!!
.-= Lauren Kelly?s last blog ..Weekend recap and meeting my first bloggy friend! =-.
I feel a bit like God is taking a large log and beating me on the head with it because fear and it’s hold on my life keeps coming up again and again. Part of what God really convicted me of during church yesterday is this:
The thing that I am reminded of as well is the message that God gives over and over and over again: ?do not be afraid?. It almost seems unfair that God says to these people, and to me, ?do not be afraid? when so much suffering and hardship is to follow. But I think the reason we are told not to be afraid is that through all the hard times, through all the difficulty that may come from our saying ?yes? to God we can trust that he is with us, that when we say yes he aligns himself so close to us we never have a second alone. I believe that when I finally stop fighting God and say ?yes? he is going to envelope me in a huge bear hug and never let me go. But as long as we resist, as long as I say no to God and yes to fear, God is left giving me a finger tip hug- in other words, I am keeping him at a distance.
Thanks for being part of God’s “beating”.
The Scriptures also say God’s not given us a spirit of fear – yet we fear…so I wonder where that fear comes from…(hmmmmmm)….
I was raised in a church where fear was preached from the pulpit.
.-= Reese?s last blog ..I laugh when someone gets hurt…..Why? =-.
i think you’re right that we all hear those voices in our head, and we start to let them win as soon as we think that they are unique to us.
but when you remember that the voices are trying to discourage everyone, and that they do this regardless of how amazing or inspiring you are trying to be, it robs them of some of their power.
Great reminder, Anne.
.-= bryan?s last blog ..Questions for the next Reader Q&A =-.
“Fear” … aka Satan, the enemy of your story, God’s story.
“We?re all divinely human.” Mmmmm, yes! I like what that implies.
Great post.
Love the picture illustration–water faucet handle. Imagine if everyone’s Fear faucet was “off.” … you talk about seeing Change.Restoration.Love.Grace.Mercy.
Once YOU take control of the fear. Surround yourself with people who will help you keep Fear off.
Anne-You Rock! I pray for you, as you share your story-and, for the people that share their story w/ you. I also, pray, that your Fear’s remain in the off position.
.-= Reese?s last blog ..I laugh when someone gets hurt…..Why? =-.
Hey Reese! Good to see you, friend!
Amazing things happen when we turn that “fear faucet” off and freefall into God’s arms, eh? In not turning that faucet off, we are robbing ourselves of the joy of experiencing that God IS sufficient, that He is infinitely bigger than the author of fear. I canceled my subscription to fear a long time ago. I no longer get its mass junk mail piles. The freedom is immense.
Aw I love seeing good conversations on here!!!!
Amen, JD. I know you “canceled the subscription” my brave, courageous friend. The world absolutely “needs your story to be complete.” You say “the freedom is immense;” I feel- freedom is there for everyone, they will have to be intentional, in their grasp for it.
.-= Reese?s last blog ..I laugh when someone gets hurt…..Why? =-.
*waves to Anne* :o}
Reese,
Fear is a choice, and in choosing fear, we are choosing to be held captive by satan. You are right — we have to be intentional in our refusal to fear.
Just like I wrote on your post about how we feel when someone is hurt, the same applies to feeling fear. People fear letting go of fear because they associate it with risk — but in choosing fear, they risk missing out on freedom beyond measure. What is the bigger risk?
“Some may feel that it is a risk to allow one’s self to deeply peel back a layer of our heart that allows us to feel life intensely… but if we are not free to experience the sorrow of others, are we not also shielding ourselves from the promise of feeling pure, unadulterated joy?
We’d be surprised at what we’re missing…”
I could not agree more- Nicely put, and very
valid points. :-)
I think it is o.k to laugh at silliness, though..
i.e. someone tripping, running into a door,
shopping cart incident. (these have nothing to
do with someone’s depth of empathy-Just clumsiness.
hehe.
Happy Holla-day’s.
.-= Reese?s last blog ..I laugh when someone gets hurt…..Why? =-.
Fear comes from the enemy of our souls. He prowls around looking for whoever he can devour. Fear is the weapon he often wields. There’s no place else he’d rather see us. Terrified. Immobilized. Impotent. Defeated. Useless.
Praise God for sending Jesus! Light. Love. Freedom. Joy. And ALL of the fruit of the Spirit are ours!
The Holy Spirit in us conquers fear.
We are more than conquerers today!
.-= Linda Stoll?s last blog ..Lavish Giver … or Penny-Pinching Cheapskate? =-.
That last statement was very interesting to me:
“The world needs your story in order to be complete.”
Can you talk about that more.
I think I know what you are saying but I do not want to misunderstand….
Oh, and the writing on fear was tremendous. Not just saying this because I know you (well maybe a little bit) but in ebook your writing was one of my favorites. Fear holds back so much, and yet it is never really talked about.
.-= Kyle Reed?s last blog ..The Decade of Reality TV =-.
We were all put on this planet for a purpose. All of us. The least, the most, the violent, the overlooked, the normal, the crazy. All of us.
If we fight against the One who placed us here (and in his omniscient being), the story he has beautifully designed for us – all of us – to be woven in and out of each others lives and with creation will fall farther away from his original intent.
That help?
that does help. I do believe that fear is one of the biggest stumbling blocks/deterants that we face and is a tool of Satan.
I guess i just got a little confused as to the language of making the world compete. But I think I understand what you are saying.
.-= Kyle Reed?s last blog ..MUST READ Monday 12/21/09 =-.
yes…yes. fear plays the biggest role in my life. it is something that i am battling. a wise person once made a good point that maybe risk has to happen before an opportunity presents itself. in that fear is overcome and trust and faith is stirred.
.-= Lynse Leanne?s last blog ..have you tried it? =-.
Thanks for this post. Fear has reared it’s ugly head in my life quite often, but most recently I had to fight it when I had the opportunity to go to the gym and workout. Fear kept telling me that I’d look ridiculous and the skinny beautiful people would laugh at me. Well I went anyway and fear hasn’t been around since then. It feels good that fear’s not a priority in my life anymore. The sense of accomplishment I got from kicking fear to the curb is something they should really bottle and sell. :)
.-= Anonymous Fat Girl?s last blog ..Products to help with dieting and weight loss =-.
amen! love it! conquering fear is powerful and once we do it, we realize how silly we were to fear those things in the first place, but the getting past it and doing the thing we feared most….is incredible!
We have the power to do it, it is in our minds…conquering the voice that tells us we should be afraid and saying NO! to it! Amazing to see what happens!!
IMO the #1 way to dispel fear is truly believing that God is who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do.
And anyone who has completed Beth Moore’s Believing God study will totally recognize that!
“I’m Believing God!”
.-= Cindy Graves?s last blog ..The Power of One, Multiplied? =-.
I read this when you posted the download last week, but like foreign films, it’s always better the second time.
Thanks for sharing!
.-= Bianca Juarez?s last blog ..trails and life… =-.
…We as a church, the Village Church, here in Dallas, Texas do not choose Fear. We choose Faith.We choose Hope.We choose Mercy, and we choose the Gospel….
Where else, really, is there to go?
Sorry, to keep commenting, but I wanted to proclaim this and ask your body of believer’s, Anne to lift up not only the Chandler’s, not only our leadership, but each.individual.person that walks thru the Village door’s-May they have “Heaven breathed on them”…and, may they be forever changed!! …help us to reach them for HIM.
amen.
.-= Reese?s last blog ..I laugh when someone gets hurt…..Why? =-.
Amen
I’m still in the process of wading through the ebook. It’s actually opened in another tab right now. I did read your entry, though, Anne. It’s such an important idea. I think Seth even focuses on fear (or really promoting courage) a lot for many of the same reasons.
From his influence, I formed a defining characteristic of what I try to do: encourage. Thanks for your encouragement, though, in reaffirming the importance of this issue.
I’m looking forward to your book release.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
.-= bondChristian?s last blog ..The Option Detox: A guide for when you have 12 godzillion choices =-.
Let’s press into defeating fear with God’s absolute love which is perfect, complete, and real. When we are afraid, let’s throw ourselves into His arms.
.-= patriciazell?s last blog ..#23 UNDERSTANDING CHRIST: HIS WALK ON EARTH =-.
i have that verse in 1 john tattooed (in hebrew) on my leg :)
Fear is a human emotion/instinct. I am troubled by some posts that seem to infer that someone is not strong enough in their beliefs as to why they fear. These are times infused with fear but we can also choose to buy into it or find the other side of fear. There is a saying: we can choose love or fear….I agree with the blog post. It’s beautiful. What I particularly like is the last line about all our stories being needed. AND, that we are divinely human. If you knew what I believed, many of you would declare me wrong. But my truth is we are closer to the same thing that we think. Divinely human. Humans created by the Divine. Divine living within us.
Bingo. :)
imago dei, my friend. imago dei.
This is a great post. I believe that faith and fear cannot dominate the same personality. The best way to overcome fear is with faith based actions. Our behavior says more about what dominates us than our words. Let’s walk by faith in 2010 and beyond.
.-= Dr. Baines?s last blog ..Jan 2, Share This Site =-.