Conquering Fear

Last weekend I took a drive to a ministry conference in Connecticut. I drove there alone, to a place I had never been, to meet with a group of people I didn't know. Halfway there I said to myself "What am I doing? I must be crazy!" But the weekend turned out to be fantastic and I came away with new friends and lasting memories.

While many people may not think this is a big deal, to a person who has lived a life full of fear, this was a tremendous testimony to the growth that the Lord has brought about in me over the past 6 years. I remember the first time I traveled to Florida with my children without another adult accompanying me. I was tremendously fearful. I was a nervous wreck, but it turned out to be a turning point in my life. I remember how proud I felt that I had actually done it, flown with four young children, rented a mini-van, drove to all our destinations, took the kids to the pool, etc. There were so many fears overcome (or at least endured) on that trip, that it unleashed a new courage in me to try new things and venture out from my safe little world.

So gradually I began coming out of my comfort zone. I began to socialize more and joined a professional organization where I would meet new people and even take on a leadership role. I faced my fear of failure by taking the PMP exam and I began taking on-line classes to pursue my Ph.D. I am not always comfortable in these situations, especially in large groups of people, but I have come to learn that nothing is as bad as it seems and once I push myself to do something and commit myself, I am rarely disappointed in the outcome.

Fear is something that is really not rational. You can't tell someone not to be afraid or even reason with a fearful person why they shouldn't be afraid. Reason has nothing to do with it. And a person who is controlled by fear is in a very difficult state, one which is difficult to overcome. But by taking small steps and building on each success, freedom from fear is possible.