Have you ever let fear win?
Tonight I caught a case of writer’s block. At least that’s what I thought at first, until I realized I was just afraid.
The first step to beating your fears, is to acknowledge them.
I was afraid of you.
I was afraid because every time I write, or speak I become vulnerable to your critique. Now I’m sure you would never behave ugly or say rude things, but imagine for a second you know the person who would. Aren’t they scary?
For a second I could hear them snickering, “Oh yeah, she is changing the world one run-on sentence at a time”, and then laughing in a high-pitched voice. (High-pitched voices sound much more sinister in my mind).
Fear wins when we walk away.
I put my pen down, and decided I would never write another word. I let fear win.
I decided to stop writing and something interesting happened; the fear went away. The mocking stopped. The voices were silent. But instead of feeling peace, all I felt was defeat.
So, I did what most defeated women do, I ate a half a bag of Halloween candy that I swore I’d never touch. Incidentally, that did not help… and…now I have to buy more candy or endure the wrath of my 4-year-old. Despite my stomach revolting against me, I was still able to gain some much-needed perspective, “I’d rather fight fear that comes from steps of faith, than live in defeat from letting fear win.”
We don’t have to live in defeat.
Still feeling defeated (look, it takes more than cheap candy and an epiphany, those things just help steer me in the right direction), I picked up my pen and started to journal a prayer. I took comfort in the words of a “weeping prophet” who said, it was good to wait quietly for the Lord’s salvation (Lam 3:26). So I waited, and then it came. Yet another reminder, that we have the power to change the world.
“If God is for us, who can be against us… we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” Rom:8:31,37
Challenge your fears with Truth.
Steps of faith are sometimes scary and often met with opposition, even if it’s just voices in your head. Learn to silence them with truth. God is for you! More than a conqueror speaks of victory through oppositions, not just over them.
Christianity is about faith, not fear.
Don’t let fear win.
What is one fear that you have that keeps you from taking a step of faith. Are you willing to acknowledge it and let God give you victory over it?
How can I pray for you this week as you go out and change the world?
shelaughsblog 
Shaena, thank you for showing us a beautiful relationship between our infallible Father God and a human. Your stories are so encouraging and have made me laugh more than once. May God richly bless you and pastor Nick as you shine in Arizona.
Thanks Kendal. God bless you.
I love “She laughs” but particularly this blog. Everyone has fears when it comes to putting words on paper. This story rings true, for me, my friends and my students. Thank you Shaena, for starting my week off with a laugh and a prayer
Love you momma.
I am fearing something so big right now and this really spoke to me. Thanks so much for sharing. I really liked how you said that we need to silence the voices in our head with God’s truth. This was so encouraging and your honesty is SO REFRESHING to read!
Praying for you Jenn. God knows your fears, He is bigger. Psalm 56:10-11 Our fears are weakened by the power of Truth.
I love your blog Shaena! Thanks for being faithful to write. Your life is a constant source of encouragement to me. 🙂
Thanks Alaina, and praise God! Praying for you, you guys are world changers.
Your words spoke to me Shaena and reminded me of the many experiences I missed out on because of fear. In my 50’s I decided that I would no longer let my fears rule me. That’s when I finally learned to swim, and forced myself to reach out to people in friendship. God’s faithfulness has brought me through so many interesting experiences as well as many scary ones. Pray for my children that they would seek the Lord and give their lives to Him. I have turned them over to Him and asked Him not to take them before they are ready to go to Him. My greatest fear is that they will miss out on His blessings. And to be honest, the fear I have now is that maybe I am not a “good enough Christian.”
Thank you for your writings; you are a blessing! Lucy Nichols
Praying for you Lucy. In Christ you are enough. Nick shared about this very feeling last night (www.theanthem.org). At the end he reminded us, “It’s not about who we are, it’s about who He is. It’s not about what we do, it’s about what He did”. We boast in Jesus because He is the power to change our heart, the hearts of our family members, and the world. He can do it. And He wants to use you. What an honor. Praying radical things for your family.
xoxo Shaena
Thank you Shaena. Your reply really touched me.
Thanks for the encouragement, Shaena!
:0) xoxo
Love this post, Shaena. Thank you for sharing. I love “Challenge your fears with truth”. Although I know this, I need to be reminded of it, often. I’m not a naturally “fearful” person, but lately, if I allow myself to fret over what seems like a “big” trial in our life, I almost feel sick to my stomach. Pray I continually challenge my fears with His Truth. His plans are to prosper, not harm me, to give me a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) Praise God! Love ya & keep writing! We love hearing from you!
Praying for you too and thanks.