Fear Less, Love More

Sometimes I feel unsafe or insecure. I’ll enter a room, an environment, or encounter a specific individual or situation and, internally, believe I must be guarded.

Feelings follow thoughts. After we have a thought or an idea that we mentally accept, it becomes either a momentary or long term belief. That belief becomes a feeling, an emotion.

Emotions are the internal energy, the motion, that energizes and motivates us to act. If you think of different emotions you can also imagine how differently each emotion may urge you to act.

When I feel unsafe, anxious, or insecure I also feel a desire to act upon the feelings that follow. I may feel a need to act defensive, critical, to argue, to hide. Or a need to protect my beliefs, feelings, or anything about myself.

By doing any of these acts I will be hindered in my ability to freely be myself. Which also limits my ability to love, and show love to others. Which, in turn, limits my number of experiences in my life that are filled with goodness and love.

All of the above mentioned negative feelings, thoughts, and insecurities, can be attributed to some type of fear. Important to remember is, there is no fear in love. Just like there is no darkness in light.

If, due to fears, I believe I can’t be, and am not being, myself then who are people seeing? If I am believing, then acting, a certain way because of an inner fear, can love or goodness come out of that fear?

When we experience subtle, familiar, fears we would benefit to start recognizing them. When there is a sense of fear, or an urge to be guarded from potential disappointment or conflict, how can we disarm that fear? If we can find ways to disarm, to remove, to disbelieve, the insecurities, cautions and fears, then we can be “ourselves”. Our “real” selves, more often.

If we are performing in any type of fear, even for just a moment, we are not being ourselves. Don’t let yourself believe that living in, or acting upon, any fear is who you really are. God even said, He hasn’t given you a spirit of timidity, insecurity, anxiety, or fear. He gave you a spirit that has power, energy, confidence, love, and a peaceful, calm, tranquil mind. That’s who you are.

There are many amazing truths, and ways God will show us personal truths, to counter any and every fear. One strong truth is that God is Love, perfect love. Perfect love casts out fear. If we recognize a fear, then at that moment ask God to show you how His love can cast out the fear that you're having.

Recently I had an experience of fear, anxiety, and insecurity. I recognized the mental fears, and then the emotions. I asked God, in my mind, how He could help me not be afraid or insecure in that moment. I then had the following thought. “As long as I am living in the guidance God gives to me, then "I can do, accomplish, perform, complete or withstand any and all of the things (He has called, led, or allowed me to do, or experience). I can do this because He is with me in those situations. And it’s through Him, His Spirit that's inside me and with me, who gives me the strength and ability".

In those moments, environments, or situations of insecurities, doubts or fears, even though you may sense conflict, a feeling, a need, an urge, or a sense to protect and guard yourself, don’t. Don't give into fear. There is nothing to protect. Nothing will or can happen to you that God does not allow. Not injury, conflict, offense, even death.

Nothing can happen unless God allows it. That’s right, nothing. If we are where He has led us to be in life, then there’s nothing to fear. Even if something does happen that we didn’t like, or expect, we can be comforted to know that God already knew. And if He allowed it then there is a purpose. ALL THINGS work out, turn out, are used and intended for the good of His children.

My past experiences may tell me to be guarded, to fear, or not to trust. But, I can trust Him, My father. Because if I am where I should be, then no attack, injury or offense can take place that He has not allowed for "my good" & "His purposes". I must keep my defenses, and my guard, down in environments and around people. I have to learn to fear less. Then I can love, and encounter moments of goodness and love, more.