How to Be Fearless in 5 Easy Steps
David Reyes
Yeah, that was a clickbait title! But the steps really are pretty easy. It’s the whole trusting in God part that’s the real challenge. So let’s dig in!
Fear is a very powerful emotion that can leave you feeling paralyzed. It sucks to be afraid! You can’t move, you shake, you worry, you freeze; it is a horrible way to live. Yet, many of us choose to live this way. Sooner or later, fear can become a trusty crutch that keeps us “safe and sound.”
Could it be that our fears paralyze us to the point where we can no longer walk in the purpose God has laid out for us? I think so! So here are the 5 easy (better yet, essential) steps to be fearless:
Realize that fear is foreign to you.
2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” So when you notice fear creeping in, you can confidently remind yourself that the feeling of fear is not something you produce but only a remnant of a past life without Jesus.
2. Fight fear with God’s love.
Check this out: 1 John 4:18 says, “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”
When you start to fully embrace the fact that you have truly been 100% forgiven by God, you begin to experience the fullness of His love. The evidence of this realization is in how you start to treat others. Empathy and patience toward others are a few of the early signs that you have fully embraced God’s love. Fear has no place in a heart that is living in the fullness of God’s love.
3. Ask God to help you sense His nearness.
Listen to what God tells Joshua: “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
God’s plan for us, from Genesis to Revelation, is for us to have fellowship with Him continually. Sin separates us from God, but Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross brings redemption and reconciliation to the relationship. Now, we can return to continual fellowship with God. Ask God to remind you that He’s right there with you.
4. Confess and Pray.
James 5:13-16 says: “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Fear is an emotion that, when left unchecked, could lead to a whole bunch of problems. You might even look at “unchecked fear” as a sickness that needs healing. I think fear will always creep its head up, but you don’t have to be dominated by it. So when fear starts to take over, why not treat it like a disease? Why not confess to someone, “Hey, I’m feeling overcome by fear right now”? Chances are, that person might be willing to pray with you about it. And according to this passage in James, the combination of confession and prayer will bring healing.
Here’s some more context: Phillipians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
5. Receive the gift Jesus left us.
John 14:27: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
There it is, ready for the taking! I told you, it’s easy!