Defy the OddsSample

Have you ever seen someone jump at a scary or intense moment in a movie and then quickly explain why they reacted that way? They follow up with, “I wasn’t scared; I was just...” Then they give one of a variety of excuses. People tend to cover their fears with excuses to legitimize how they’re feeling or responding. Instead of admitting fear, they provide an excuse for the response that’s actually a direct result of their fear.

Common responses to fearful situations are running, hiding, and freezing. The same three responses can occur in your walk with Christ. When faced with fearful situations, you may try to run away from God’s presence, hide from God’s conviction, or freeze in following God’s plan. While it’s human nature to avoid whatever causes you fear, letting the Holy Spirit direct your steps in fearful situations is the only way to experience peace. But you must face your fears before you can give them to God, and then you must hand them over to Him with no intention of taking them back.

You will never truly face your fears as long as you make excuses for how you respond to fear. Whether you experience common fears such as the fear of financial burden, rejection, or failure, you must not make excuses for your responses. Fearing financial burden may keep you from giving freely to the Lord, but you excuse it as financial planning. Fear of rejection may keep you from creating relationships and sharing Jesus with others, but you excuse it as an introverted personality trait. Failure is a common fear that can keep you from trying new things or stepping out of your comfort zone, but you say you have too much on your plate to start anything new.

Whatever the fearful situation may be, your excuses will probably sound legitimate to you and to others. But even though they sound good, they ignore a problem that will only deepen its roots over time.

In Acts 9, God directed Ananias toward Damascus to bring healing to a dangerous man. Everyone, including Ananias, knew Saul’s reputation for killing Christians. Ananias voiced his concerns, but God reassured him of His plan. Ananias didn’t run from his assignment like Jonah did, he didn’t try hiding from God like Adam and Eve did, and he didn’t freeze by refusing to go where directed like ten of Moses’s spies did. He stated his fear to God but continued to be obedient.

Overcoming fear begins with acknowledging what frightens you. Don’t continue making excuses for your responses to fear; when you do, you’re giving more ground to the Enemy. Instead, face your fears and communicate them honestly to God. Only then will you experience deliverance and victory from the weight fear places on your shoulders. There is no shame in being fearful. Fear is normal. You just can’t let it have control over your life.