I have a friend who is afraid of water. She refused to go near a pool. Finally, after years of talking about it, she changed into her bathing suit.
Slowly, after much encouragement she put her foot on the top step. It took an hour to get her down the steps and to the shallow end of the pool. We were never able to get her past this point, but I was proud of her for taking so a bold and proactive step to even get in the pool.
She had to work through her fear and while we worked on each step, we discussed why she was afraid of water and how this effected her life.
Working through our fears is not easy, but to move through them and past them, this is exactly what we have to do.
How do we work through our fear?
- Pray and give the fear to the Lord
- Take the time to work through the fear and issue. The answer or the fix is not going to happen overnight. It took a while for it to become a stronghold and will take even longer for the stronghold to be released, but it will never be released if we don’t work through it and ask the Lord for help.
- Take a break from whatever is holding these emotional ties. In time, it will provide new perspective.
- Talk it out with a friend or a counselor who will listen, but will also be honest.
- Ask for accountability in overcoming the issue or working through the problem
- Exercise is a great way to clear the mind and help us to see things different and it is good for both the body and the mind.
- Stop thinking about it by reading a book, taking a nap, going for a long drive, enjoying a hobby or learning something new.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” {Isaiah 41:10}
To work through your fear, why not work through each of these seven steps. How have these steps helped you work through your fear?