Act

11 Jul

“We generate fears while we sit.  We overcome them by action.”  ~ Dr. Henry Link

There was a point in my life when I was studying clinical psychology.  Many of the people that I saw in clinic or in the hospital were people who had been, in one way or another, immobilized by fear.  Their fear, based upon something real or imaginary, had so gotten the best of them that they shut down.  Some of them turned to substance abuse, some became so afraid that they would not leave their homes, and some allowed their fear to make them paranoid of others.

The thing that most all of them had in common — and it is something that we all share in common, though to a lesser degree with them — is that, in their immobilized state, they would become even more fearful.  Because, if we quit doing anything and dwell upon our fears, they grow exponentially.

One of the best ways to address fear and rid oneself of fear is to face it head on.  When they would quit dwelling upon their fear and would begin to face the world again, they often found ways to overcome their fear.  Certain situations might cause anxiety for them; but, armed with enough strategies, they would face the situations, minimize their anxieties, and find that life was, indeed, livable.

Our spiritual lives are very much the same way.  There are times that we become immobilized by fear.  We do not want to offend God.  We do not want to disappoint God.  We do not want to incur God’s wrath.  So we do nothing about it.  Then, we dwell upon the disappointment that we feel for not doing what we should and that makes us even worse.  It can be a downward spiral.

In order to get out of that, we have to begin doing again.  We need to remember that God does not easily offend.  God does not easily disappoint.  God does not easily anger.  He is long-suffering, perfectly patient, and absolutely forgiving.  He knows our struggles and is there for us if we but ask Him for His help.  If God does shake His head at us, it would be for the times that we feel unforgivable and unlovable.  He sent His only Son to us to set us free from that.

Do not let the enemy win.  He is the one that wants us immobilized by fear and doubt.  Rather, claim the victory that has already been won for us by Christ Jesus.  Act on your faith.  Do what needs to be done.  And know that God will be with you every step of the way.

FAITH ACTION:  Try to tackle something today that you have been avoiding.