How to overcome fear …

Fear is an emotion caused by a perceived danger or threat. People all over the world today are feeling fearful for a variety of reasons, from a perceived threat of the lingering coronavirus pandemic, to not knowing what life will be like in the “new normal” once we’re fully out of the pandemic.

The truth is, to a certain degree the coronavirus IS a threat and a danger … but that reality doesn’t mean we must, or need to, respond in fear.

We don’t.

And the truth is, for many of us life won’t fully return to the “old normal.” That also doesn’t mean we must, or need to, respond in fear.

Not only do we choose our response to this (or any) threat, it’s important we choose NOT to respond in fear.

So let’s simplify how we can overcome the temptation to be afraid:

IT STARTS WITH YOUR THINKING
There’s a simple equation to human behavior we need to use now and always remember. It’s this: Our thoughts create our emotions, and the combination of our thoughts and emotions determine our behavior. We’re constantly talking to ourselves (“self-talk”), and what we say to ourselves (think) creates corresponding emotions; that self-talk, coupled with the corresponding emotions, determines the actions we take. If we want to change our behavior, we must change our thoughts (or self-talk); if we want to change our emotions, we must change our thinking; and if we want to change our thinking, we … well, have to change our thinking!

All of this helps us understand that if we are experiencing the EMOTION of fear, we must change what we’re saying to ourselves (our THINKING) that generate those emotions.

If we choose to drown ourselves in exposure to negative, constant news reports that exaggerate and even mis-represent what is happening in the world and locally regarding the coronavirus pandemic, we can easily feed our minds a steady diet of doomed thinking, which will only generate emotions to match. In this case, irrational fear.

However, if we redirect our thoughts and our self-talk to rational thinking, we generate a corresponding emotion. In this case, it might be caution, leading us to act prudently, choosing to measure our emotions and actions from facts and truth rather than react in fear.

IT NEEDS YOUR FAITH
Our thinking, emotions, and behaviors should never be absent the surrender to, and direct influence and guidance of, God. It’s when we try to remove God’s preeminence in our thinking that we stray from His way and wisdom and take ourselves into troubled waters.

The fact is, this life is far too big for us to handle alone. There’s nothing like a pandemic to remind us of that! But there’s nothing — N O T H I N G! — too big, too hard, too difficult for God to handle. There’s nothing that God is not sovereign over. So when we infuse our thoughts with this kind of faith in God, it generates corresponding emotions – in this case peace in God, and confidence in our Creator – to lead us through this and any crisis we may face in life.

Just pairing our thoughts with our faith provides a powerful punch to deflating any temptation to be afraid! The Apostle Paul wrote about how infusing faith in our thinking transforms us:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect,” Romans 12:2.

How can we foster our faith in times when others are fearful? Key ways are:

• • Spend time in prayer with God. Praying is simply talking with God. Tell Him what you’re thinking and feeling – or tempted to think or feel, surrender yourself to Him and tell Him what you need and want.
  • Spend time reading and studying the Bible. You’ll gain insights, direction, and see how God helped others overcome their fears.
  • Worship God. Praise Him! Sing. Listen to worship music and songs.

IT AFFECTS YOU PHYSICALLY
If you’ve already allowed yourself to slip into the feelings of fear and/or anxiety, then it’s impacting you physically as well mentally and spiritually. Your breathing will be shallower and faster (closer to a pant), your muscles will tense up, you may struggle with being able to sleep well, and other symptoms may be present. In addition to changing your thinking and infusing your thoughts with your faith in God, there are a few things you can do physically to help your physical response:

• • Breathe! Take a few minutes to take some deep breaths in, and then release them v e r y  slowly. When you become anxious, your breathing becomes more shallow and can lead to a panic attack. By taking deep breaths in, and releasing them slowing, you better oxygenate your body which helps you physically feel less stressed or panicked as you become more physically relaxed.
  • Exercise. Multiple studies show regular physical exercise can be as effective at overcoming stress, anxiety, and depression as some medications prescribed for such issues. Sources may be instructing you to practice “social distancing” but that doesn’t mean you can’t exercise!
  • Eat well. Multiple studies are proving that how you eat affects your moods and your mental health. Check out this article (click here) on how food affects your mood and mental health

Many reliable sources are instructing some populations to practice “social distancing.” That does not mean locking yourself up in your house just to be sedentary and binge on junk food to feed your fears. Instead, as you infuse your thinking with your faith, make sure you breath, exercise, and provide yourself with healthy nutrition.

If you direct your thinking wisely, trust God, and take good care of yourself physically, it will be impossible for you to be ruled by fear.

Scotty