Overcoming Fears

QUESTION: Overcoming fears - What does it require?

ANSWER:

Many of us struggle with overcoming fears in our lives. It is helpful to realize that fear is nothing more than a voluntarily endured hardship. Here are some suggestions for overcoming fear:

• Concentrate on reality -Fear can result from focusing on a challenging idea or the possibilities of the future, or from dwelling and rehashing events of the past. These ideas and possibilities do not represent reality and we should focus on our present reality.
  
  
• Attack fear with faith and love. There is wonder-working power in these weapons and they have been overcoming fears throughout humanity's existence.
  
  
• Discuss your fears with someone you trust.
  
  
• Realize that God can take away your fear. In the Bible, 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you."

The first attempt at overcoming fears was described in Genesis 3. Adam was afraid of God, so he hid from Him. This solution was not met with a great deal of success. Adam exemplified humanity's intuitive nature to run and hide when we are fearful.

It is counterintuitive to turn toward God, not away from Him, in times of fear. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34).

Matthew 6:26-27 explains why we should have faith rather than fear, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Overcoming our fears involves embracing a counterintuitive nature. It requires a well-armed confrontation. Most importantly, it requires God. Rather than being overwhelmed by fear, overcome your fear by being overwhelmed by God. When you make God the focus of your life, you can conquer more than fear.