It’s no breaking news to you of the fact that all humans have felt fear. The interesting thing about fear is that it comes in all shapes and sizes and has no discrimination. Here’s the question: If we’re to experience fear, what are we going to do about it? We can’t just ignore the feeling, trust me, that never works out well. Instead, we must choose to face it. Don’t let fear poison your mind by using this holy antidote. Want to know the antidote to fear? It’s bravery.
CLICK PLAY TO LISTEN: EP 9
The reason we need an antidote to fear is because fear unchecked is poison to our lives. Guess what believer? The second you crossed the line of faith God has given you the resources you need to tap into holy courage and bravery. He makes us brave. God makes us courageous. He is the source of confidence where we can be scared, and press on anyway. Don’t let fear poison your mind by using this holy antidote: bravery through Christ’s power. I’ll give you 4 steps to help you recognize and channel when you need to be brave.
Step 1: Recognize Fear
Let me start by saying there is a difference between processing through your feelings, and ignoring your feelings. You can’t bottle up fear and make it disappear. You’ve got to feel your feelings. It’s time to put in the work, process the feeling, and from there you can activate the logical (not emotional) part of your brain. Hint: The worst thing you can do is let your feelings steer the ship. In other words, your feelings are indicators, not dictators. Don’t let fear poison your mind by using this holy antidote of being brave.
My pal, Oxford says that “fear” is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Oxford also says that “brave” is an adjective that means ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage. Brave is the direct antidote to fear. I can definitely name a few people in the Bible who were brave by this definition. Here’s the great part, Oxford’s definition of bravery didn’t even tap into God’s power. You have the power of Christ to do brave things no matter how scary it is.
When you take the time to feel your feelings, there will be way less collateral damage. Over time, you’ll be able to process emotions more quickly to get to your logical brain, so stick with me, this process works. There’s a reason the Bible says “Do not be afraid” 365 times. One reminder a day. It’s like God knew that we’d be facing fears with our time on Earth. But, first, here’s some scripture to back up the our talk today on “don’t let fear poison your mind by using this holy antidote of being brave”:
Scripture to Back This Up
Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Then, verse 8 goes right with it to say, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” I just love it when God puts truth on repeat. We should definitely take notes from Him and put what He says on repeat. It’s like a, “My mama always said…”, but instead it’s a, “My God always says….” Now that’s powerful.
Psalm 23:4 says, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” At our worst moments, our darkest moments, He never leaves us. In fact, He’s right there to protect and comfort you. Question for you, dear listener, what do you know about sheep? I could go into a whole episode about sheep and Jesus, but instead, I suggest this book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” by W. Phillip Keller. It’s absolutely fascinating and enlightening. I’ll link it in the show notes.
Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Have you ever felt the weight of crippling fear, and time stood still? When will this feeling be over? Is this just how my life is now? I have felt this before, and by God’s grace, I am free of it. I can testify that God’s timing is perfect, and until we get respite from fear, God tells us to be brave.
Psalm 56:3-4 says, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” I love this verse! My childhood best friend, Emily, helped me memorize this verse at a very young age from how her mom taught her. It goes like this, “When I am afraid I will trust in Thee. Psalm 56:3”
The melody she put it to has stuck with me and now my kids are singing it. That’s the power of generational scripture memorization, friends. Side note: Emily is the one who did all my fabulous rebranding, so if you need a brand and website expert, 10/10 recommend her. I’ll link her site in the show notes.
Isaiah 41:10 says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” When God says, “don’t” it’s not a request or a suggestion; it’s a command. So the second we feel fear taking control, recognize it, call it out, and preach the truth back to it.
Step 1 is recognize your feelings of fear. Acknowledge it, but if that fear gets a foothold and starts to poison your spirit, it’s time to do the deeper work. There’s a difference between jumping when lightening strikes close by and you press on, versus there’s a thunderstorm forecasted for later this week, and you’re cowering in your closet right now. Don’t let fear poison your mind by using this holy antidote of being brave.
Step 2: Identify the Underlying Emotion or Connection
So, you’re feeling scared. Why? This is when I want you to get full on acting like a four year old and keeping asking the question “Why?”. Fear almost always has an underlying emotion or connection. This is part of the deeper work so you don’t let fear poison your mind by using this holy antidote of being brave. Here’s an example, hint: start by stating your fear:
- Fear: not wanting to drive on the highway. Why?
- I get nervous, and I don’t like feeling nervous. Why?
- Because it makes me sweat through my work clothes, and I don’t want to be stinky.
I hear you on this; no one wants to be the stinker at work. Put a mental bookmark right here, we’ll come back to this scenario in step three. So far, we’ve covered step one of recognizing fear, and step two of identifying the underlying emotion or connection. If you are currently dealing with being afraid, and it’s starting to change how you do things, here’s what I want you to do:
- Press pause: Take at least a minute or two (or more time if you need) and then hit play again
- Pray: Ask God to help you get to the root of the fear
- Process: Ask yourself why you’re feeling this way. Get to the bottom of it
- Play: Resume this podcast episode
Don’t let fear poison your mind by using this holy antidote of being brave. Tap into your God-given identity of being a brave person. Ask God to help you do this. Always, always take your big emotions to a bigger God. He can handle whatever you want to say, and He’s going to love you no matter what. Don’t let fear poison your mind by using this holy antidote of being brave.
Step 3: Seek Wise Counsel
Recognize, Identify, and here we are, step three: seek wise counsel. Remember to first, take your fears to God. Once you’ve done that, pray and ask God to send some wise counsel into your life to help you flesh it out and come up with how to press on. This can look like a mentor, home group, therapy, medical professionals, etc… Keep God throughout this process and He will point you in the right direction. Let’s look at a Biblical example to see what this can look like:
Esther’s Story
We’re now diving into the book of Esther, and boy, it’s quite the rollercoaster of a story. The book of Esther is only ten chapters long, so if you’re looking to read something today and want a story that is an absolute nail biter, read the book of Esther! Flashback to 886-465 BC when King Xerxes is ruling in Susa. Things Xerxes likes to do:
- drink heavily
- be prideful
- show off his pretty things
- makes dumb dumb, knee-jerk decisions
So basically, not so great a guy. In one of his drunken states, he wants to show off his wife, Queen Vashti, but she isn’t having it. Side note: you can’t say no the the king, so in a dumb dumb knee-jerk decision, King Xerxes says Queen Vashti is no longer queen. And in quick summary:
- Xerxes needs a queen
- He has a beauty contest
- Esther wins (and hides her Jewish heritage)
There is a big, bad guy in the story, Haman, and he wants to kill all the Jews. Haman is Xerxes’ best buddy, and in a drunken state, the king agrees to this genocide. Yikes. So, here we are in the story, Queen Esther is now put in a situation to where she can either reveal who she truly is and attempt to save the lives of her people, or she can hide and watch her people die. Remember, that going in front of the king when you haven’t been called can result in death, so it’s safe to say that Esther is feeling multiple levels of fear. She takes this fear to wise counsel, her relative, Mordecai. Mordecai, helps shut that fear down and gives her a (now famous) pep talk:
“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14
And because I don’t want to spoil the nail biter, rollercoaster book, you’ll have to read what happens next. Trust me, it’s a good one. Esther takes her fear to a Godly, trusted source, and He gives Godly wise counsel. He helps her shut that fear down. Remember, the antidote to fear is bravery, not getting rid of the fear. Bravery is being scared, and doing the right thing anyway.
Step 4: Rinse and Repeat
Cool, Brooke, all my fears have been zapped away! Yeah Right! How do I live this out in my life today? Glad you asked, friend. Once we become a Christians, fear isn’t removed from our lives, but we are equipped with holy courage. Fears come and go, so keeping this system on rinse and repeat will immensely help you process through being afraid. No more of this “new level of fear unlocked”. Step into your identity of being brave and instead say, “new level of bravery unlocked”.
This mindset shift puts you on offense, and as mentioned in the previous verse, Isaiah 41:10, God says, He will hold us up with His victorious right hand. Victorious! God wins every time, all the time, forever. He has called you to be brave, so it’s time to act like it.
Bonus fact: since fear doesn’t discriminate, neither does bravery. Just as fear comes in all shapes and sizes, that means bravery does too. So whether it’s financial fear of when is the next check coming in, or there’s a monster under your kid’s bed, it’s time. Don’t let fear poison your mind by using this holy antidote of being brave. Here’s a verse from Joshua to drive it home, and quick note of context before:
- Adam, Eve and the fall
- Noah’s Ark
- Joseph, his brothers, and that really cool coat
- Moses with God’s power does the whole plagues, scares pharaoh, parts the red sea, helps the Israelites escape from slavery, and more
This is the part where Moses’ time being the leader ends, and Joshua’s begins. Y’all, Moses is a tough act to follow. Did you hear his resume just then? Needless to say, Joshua was feeling some feelings when he went to step in as leader. Good thing he took it to God, because then God gives Joshua probably the best the pep talk of Joshua’s lifetime. 10/10 recommend reading Joshua chapter 1/God’s pep talk and how it played out (it’s only 18 verses).
Joshua 1:9 says, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Not a suggestion, not a request, a command. Be brave. Don’t fear. I am with you.
When you’re deep in fear, put scripture on repeat, and believe it with all your heart. God is good, and one day, believer, you will never feel fear again. There is a time limit put on whatever fear you’re feeling, and every second that passes, you are closer to it being over. Until the “over” comes, overcome being afraid with being courageous. Don’t let fear poison your mind by using this holy antidote of being brave. If God commands it of us, He will equip us. As time passes, you’ll walk less in fear, and step more into your identity of bravery through Christ. Now go do the brave thing.
Podcast Recap
- Step 1: Recognize Fear, sing Psalm 56:3
- Step 2: Identify the Underlying Emotion or Connection, do the deeper work
- Step 3: Seek Wise Counsel, be like Esther
- Step 4: Rinse and Repeat, bravery mindset
Scripture Recap
- Joshua 1:9
- Deuteronomy 31:6
- Psalm 23:4
- Psalm 27:14
- Psalm 56:3-4
- Isaiah 41:10
- Esther 4:14
I am the daughter of the King. I am chosen, forgiven, redeemed. I am loved and I belong. I am bold, brave, and strong. I am seen. I’m accepted. I am able. I’m protected. Through Him I can do anything. Because I’m the daughter of the King.
Busy Christian Mom Credo, Brooke Collier
Links from the Show:
- Brooke Collier Instagram
- Busy Christian Mom Etsy Shop
- Identity Crisis Mini Series
- “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” by W. Phillip Keller
- Emily Piepenbrink Branding & Design
