Fear is a Liar and Steals Your Happiness
Stop listening to the liar and start living your dreams.
I was out running recently, and a song by Zach Williams kept rolling through my head and heart as I ran.
Fear does a lot of things, mostly keep you from living life to the fullest you possibly can. These days, it seems that fear is speaking loudest.
Fear has a voice. We have the choice to allow that voice to continue to be heard or choose to say that we aren’t going to listen anymore.
The Voice of Fear
Here are the things that fear will speak to you. See if you recognize to whom you are listening.
Fear says don’t…
Fear says if you do that, you’re going to…
Fear says, be quiet, don’t rock the boat.
Fear tells you that you’re not good enough.
Fear tells you that you’ll always be alone.
Fear says to do what everybody is telling you to do, they know better than you.
Fear stifles progress.
Fear causes people not to question things that are happening around them and to accept everything.
Fear joins the crowd and shouts down anybody that dares not to join the crowd.
Fear makes you subject to somebody else’s desires for your life.
Fear has limits and controls to make sure you don’t exceed those limits.
Fear says always to stay safe and doesn’t allow you to figure out what “safe” means for yourself.
Fear, quite simply, is like wrapping yourself in bubble wrap from head to toe and topping it off with a helmet and steel-toed shoes so nothing can harm you.
Fear exhibits itself in a lack of confidence, a lack of peace, and a lack of truth.
Fear is a liar.
Live the Opposite of Fear
If fear is a liar forcing you to live a life that is just getting by, what is the opposite of fear?
The opposite of fear is faith or belief. Faith is not just a religious concept. When I tell people that I have the confidence to finish a 100-mile race and immediately ask if I’m praying the whole time. The faith I have to finish has more to do with confidence in the process that brought me to the point of even being willing to attempt to run 100 miles.
I was telling people the other day that I wanted to start a #faithnotfear movement. This friend said, “already exists, and there are already fans and critics alike.”
Regardless, faith also has a voice, and its voice is important to hear.
The Voice of Faith
Faith speaks also, and it is important to learn to listen to the voice of faith. This is what faith sounds like.
Faith tells you to go out and do…
Faith tells you that when you attempt great things, many times you’ll succeed.
Faith says be bold, rock the boat, because even if you fall into the water, you can swim.
Faith tells you that you are good and that you’ll do good things.
Faith tells you that you’re never alone and that somebody will always be by your side.
Faith says that when everybody else is lined up going one way, go the other way because adventure is to be found there.
Faith is always moving forward, seeking new vistas and setting the pace for others.
Faith causes people to ask questions respectfully and opens new opportunities to learn.
Faith has no limits and says that impossible is merely a word and something to be overcome.
Faith says to be secure instead of safe and step out of the boat and try to walk on water. You may sink, but at least you dared to get out of the boat.
Faith is like ripping off all the bubble wrap, experiencing the pain, and then moving past the pain to accomplishment.
Faith is full of confidence, has an overflowing peace that reveals itself in joy and enthusiasm for life.
Faith is living and being alive and thus causing others to be alive and courageous.
Faith is not only truth; it is a truth revealer and a truth giver.
How to Know the Difference Between the Voices
Not many people, when they see the list, are going to want to choose fear. Fear is such a liar that it will invariably leave you feeling gross and less than. Why would we want to accept it?
So, how can we know the difference between the two voices?
The best way to know the difference is to understand how these voices come upon you.
Fear forces itself upon you. It’s like that bully in school waiting for you to walk by, just waiting to pounce on you and force you into submission. Fear forces you to question who you are and everything about you. Fear controls you and never leaves you feeling free.
Faith, on the other hand, will never force itself on you. Faith is like that quiet, confident person in school that just went about their day; nothing seemed calm, and the bully never tried to approach because the bully knew this person would kick their ass.
Faith will always let you approach it. Faith doesn’t seek you out, but it doesn’t avoid you either.
Faith patiently waits for you to decide you want to give it a chance, that you’re tired of living with fear.
Faith is like that kindly older man or woman, with the eyes that can look into yours and swallow you up in a river of comfort.
Faith is kind and gentle and just. Faith is like a warm blanket on a cold night, where you can wrap yourself in it and be at peace for once.
Faith is waiting for you, and when you’re ready, faith will walk by your side for as long as you will allow faith to live with you.
