About 2 months ago I stopped drinking coffee, started running 3 to 4 miles every morning, and I come home and make a fresh cup of carrot, apple, kale Juice. I have been feeling incredible!
One recent morning, I awoke to the sound of thunder, and when I looked outside saw lighting filling the early morning sky. I almost allowed fear to stop me from fulling my morning run. But thankfully over the years, I’ve learned to overcome fear in my own life. Fear can be a crippling, debilitating obstacle to fulfillment and happiness.
There are two primary ways I’ve learned to overcome many of my fears.
1) I put God in control of my life. I believe God has a purpose for my life, and He is in control. If he is ready to call me home via a lighting strike then so be it. Knowing that God has a purpose for my life and knowing that I am no longer in control, has given me an incredible sense of freedom, accountability and purpose.
2) I take calculated risks. In my past, I would let flying on airplanes make me so nervous that I thought about not going. Quite honestly, it still does make me nervous sometimes, but I know the odds of dying in a plane crash are really not that high. The calculated risk is well worth the outcome.
In the past, I would also allow a little lightning storm keep me from experiencing the exhilaration of truly living. When fear is part of my decision making process it seems to outweigh the decision being made. I know the odds of being struck by lightning are 1/1,000,000. So odds are it isn’t likely going to happen to me. The calculated risk doesn’t even come close to what I’d be giving up if I gave into fear.
Fear can be a healthy and important emotion that can play an important role in a balanced life. But like anything, if we don’t keep it in check and in moderation, then fear can become disabling and paralyze us into an existence of safety with a false sense of control.
The Pastor of my church recently said, “None of us get out of here alive.” If I had to make a list of ways I’d prefer to die, I think being hit by lightning would be rather grandiose. On the other end of the spectrum, living a life full of fear, always looking for more safety may bring me to a point where my life ends with me laying in a hospital bed for an extended period of time.
Which would choose?
