FEAR
Posted on October 06, 2024 by Angela Carwheel, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Have you hit a wall that keeps you from pursuing God's purpose? Is fear preventing you from moving into your ideal life? Are you emotionally stuck?
Interestingly, God had given Adam and Eve everything their hearts could possibly desire in the Garden of Eden. In that same love, He gave them the fullness of life to draw from Him. He also gave them the freedom to choose death. They were born into perfection, but they could choose imperfection. You may ask, how could they ever have messed that up? Who could mess up perfection when you have never been exposed to imperfection? You guessed right, human beings who are given “free will.”
A counselor friend once told me that children don’t have to find evil in this world of sin; evil will find them. The Bible confirms this truth through Adam and Eve’s experience. After the Fall, every form of evil pervaded the earth. The Bible is clear that “All have sinned and all fall short of God’s glory” (Rom 3:23). On the other hand, if we give children a great foundation and pour enough of God into their hearts when evil comes, they will through God’s presence know how to dispel it (Deut 6:6-9). I am not conveying that they will live a perfect life or that nothing will harm them. This idea is utopian. However, God will be their sustaining power, and they can overcome any situation life brings.
The first evidence of negative emotions appearing on earth was when Adam experienced fear. After he and his wife had eaten the forbidden fruit, God, knowing everything, said to Adam, "Where are you? This question wasn’t for God to know Adam’s whereabouts. He is all-knowing. It was for Adam to do some introspection to expose his own unfaithful heart. Responsibility is crucial when we are confronted by God. Adam had lost his identity. He had failed to keep God’s rule in his heart and deliberately disobeyed God’s will. What made that forbidden tree so “pleasant to the eyes” (Gen 1:9)? The Garden of Eden was filled with edible, extraordinary fruit trees. The “tree of life was also in the midst of the garden” (Gen 2:9). Satan had been evicted from heaven before entering the Garden (Ezekiel 28; Isa 14). As an angelic being, he was also free to choose his destiny.
So God asked Adam, “Where Are You?” Adam answered God’s question: “Lord, I was afraid. Therefore, I hid.” Here’s where the rubber meets the road. “I was afraid.” Fear entered into Adam’s heart the moment he sinned against God. I must veer to my next point, but feel free to read further into Genesis 2.
Many people fear; therefore, many times, they hide. Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin, but God himself exposed their sin of pride. Fear can do severe damage to our human psyche. It can deceive us and draw us away from God. God’s love is unconditional. He knows you. He sees you. However, God desires that you draw close to Him in every aspect of life (Jeremiah 33:3, James 4:8). Fear deprives a person of God’s presence. It not only deprives the person but also those who are weak surrounding the person. What legacy will you leave for generations to come?
There are healthy and unhealthy fears. Healthy fear can lead to unhealthy fear if left unchecked. I may encounter fears at work, but I continue to press on because there is a reward on the other side that will enhance my living. Whatever coping mechanism I use at work, it somehow releases my fears, and I continue to press through the opposition. What makes me push out of these fears I have concerning my job? I confront my feelings based on the benefits that await me. Fear can paralyze us, but only if we allow it.
In his book Deadly Emotions, Dr. Don Colbert states:
“When you sense your heart filling with fear or your mind crowding with thoughts of irreversible loss, take a minute to ask yourself, ‘What right now seems to be fueling this fear?’ As best you can, pinpoint the cause of your stress and the source of the fear. And then seek to deal with those issues.”
Confronting whatever emotion is needed at the time will allow for clarity, contentment, and further progression. Deadly emotions can deprive one of a fulfilled life. We must do whatever it takes to surrender our lives to the Lord to live purposefully. If it means getting help, do so. If it means more introspection, take the time to have the conversations and write down your thoughts. If it means more accountability, take courageous steps closer to a familiar or unfamiliar community. Try new things! There is so much that awaits you. I am here for you if you need accountability to confront these fears. You don’t have to do life alone. Little steps are better than none. Contact me!
