Courage to Face Your Fears

The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you.’ — Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

“I am/was terrified about having children and passing on this disease.” Nina’s comment echoes feelings that occur frequently in families that have hereditary medical conditions. How do you get past fears like this, or fear of heights, or even the fear to speak up?

Practice the PEARS policy…

Prepare. The best way to face fear is to be on the offensive and not on the defensive.

Take the time to explore what’s coming in the near future. Explore through conversation and make notes. It’s too hard to remember later. Jot down questions during the conversation, especially if there’s no answer, for later action.

Expect to face the fear. The timing may surprise us, but it will come.

Assess what you know. Where are you right now in the situation? Do you know enough about what you fear, of the expectation itself?

Referrals. Look for someone who has gone through a similar situation. Most people love to help others and love to share opinions on what worked and what didn’t. Start asking for referrals and then act on them. Make a coffee date. Listen to someone else’s experiences. Use whatever you can glean from several different people. Don’t assume that you’ll get all you need from one person.

Sketch out a plan. No one can remember everything they plan. Get organized and sketch it out on paper in the form of an outline, freehand notes, or even a drawing. Put down anything that creates a firm visual or solid understanding of the idea.

The more you understand, the more confident you’ll feel. The more confident you feel, the more likely you’ll act on the information. Those pirates of fear and short-term thinking will have no power when you preempt the strike. God will lead, advise, and watch over you. Remember …

PEARS. Prepare, Expect, Assess, Referrals, Sketch.

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Steps to Knowing God