Fear is Not a Liar

I saw something today that reminded me why social media, at times, makes my eye twitch.

It was that weird and totally stupid advice phrase-‘do it afraid’.

To be fair, I have thought this and have given it as lame advice. For that, I am truly sorry.

I’ve also said, “fear is a liar”.

Wrong again. Fear is am absolute truth teller. It tells you what lie you are believing that is keeping you from the epic existence the Lord died for you to have.

For those who disagree, so be it.

Yet, I have heard enough people talk about their fears, though they didn’t realize they were, nor did they realize I was listening between the lines, to know that, fear is at times, is a gift- should you choose to receive the instruction.

You see, God did not give us a spirit of fear, this is truth. Yet that passage is truncated. The rest of it read, but one of love, power and a sound mind.

Also it’s not fear, like the typical terror or phobia we often see as the original word. Its cowardice, fearfulness, & timidity. In other words, God hasn’t given us a spirit that shrinks back, is full of fear, or lacking bravery.

But rather, power, love, and of course, the rarely correctly translated word, moderation/self control.

When fear arises, bravery and not shrinking back isn’t doing it anyway. That’s a lack of wisdom. Wisdom says to acknowledge this, ask why it’s there, what about the situation at hand is causing the fear and waiting for an answer from the King.

When fear comes, doing something anyway puts out a vibe that you are afraid. It will either draw more things to you causing more fear or repelling that thing you’re embarking on, or both.

You cannot ever fake energy.

Energy. Doesn’t. Lie.

So what?

Well, dear friend, if you are ready to dive into whatever the Lord has for you, you sure as hell better deal with the reasons you have some fear. Faking it may work for a moment, but trust my experiences when I say, an opportune time will come and faking it won’t cut it.

If you’re afraid, ask the Lord, “why?” & meditate on His sweet words that are said over and over and over, “Be strong, be strong, be strong, be strong.”

If you’re afraid, don’t shove it down and do it anyway.

Ask the Lord, “why can’t I trust that You’re with me? Why do I not believe that You are for me, not against me?”

If you’re afraid, don’t listen to those saying, “do it afraid!” My guess is, they’ve never truly been so utterly terrified that literal paralysis set in, nor have they sat in a season that my dear friend calls, ‘a dark night of the sole’.