Life Skill: Fear

This week we looked at fear.

What is it and why are we held in its grasp?

We began by looking at the differences between Anxiety, Fear and Stress.

• Anxiety:
  1. relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic)
  2. a vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune
• Fear:
  1. (an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight))
  2. (be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event) “I fear she might get aggressive”
• Stress: (psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense

The we opened up the discussion and discussed the following:
fear of death
fear of failure
fear of a wasted life
fear of loosing
fear of society
fear of unmet expectations
fear of humiliation
fear of sickness

Jesus walked on the same earth we do. He was faced with the same troubles that we are faced with. He gave us these words:
John 16:33 (New International Version)
33″I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We looked at instances in history where fear was felt and dealt with. What did these men have in common?

• Noah – will it float?
• Moses  Exodus 3:11 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 14:10
• David – will he be able to defeat the giant? 1 Samuel 17:4 – 12 40-49
• Daniel Shadrach; Meshach; Abednego – Daniel 3 & Lion’s Den – Daniel 6

All of these men in history faced enourmous situations that would have led any of us to fear. But they previaled. Why? They gave the fear to their higher power (Step 3) and we are allowed to see their success and learn from their example.

For further reading:

Specific Phobias – Anxiety Discorders Association of America
Factsheet on Phobias – Mental Health America
Our Most Common Fears – Forbes..com
How Fear Works – Howstuffworks.com