Fear is a weed. It grows. It spreads quickly. It infiltrates more and more aspects of our lives if we let it. It we are not actively weeding it out, it is growing. I prefer to ignore my fears rather than face them. That has resulted in more fear, in more situations.
When I was in high school, I started to develop stage fright when playing the piano in front of others. I was afraid of making a mistake. I was afraid of being judged. At my final recital, my hands were shaking as I started to play. This resulted in my quitting piano except for my own private enjoyment.
A few years later, I started to have stage fright with singing. That, too, got worse and worse. I went from auditioning for solos in high school to not singing solo at all. I might make a mistake. I will be judged not good enough. Fear is a weed that continued to grow and spread. It took up more space in my mind and heart, and spread to other parts of my life. It grew into anxiety.
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:9-10 NIV).
“Do not fear.” God’s got it. God knows that fear is a weed that will grow. God knows we need grace, and that we all make mistakes. We all fail and fall short and it then that God says, “You are mine. You are enough.”
I had to choose to stop listening to the voice of fear telling me I am not good enough and listen to the voice of God telling me I am chosen. Slowly, with continued, guided work, the voice of fear diminished. I am slowly getting the roots of the fear pulled out, and it is so freeing.
Do you have fear? How is it growing? Are you willing to pull out the weeds? Are you willing to declare you are enough? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.