The Bible is full of men and women who could have won awards for their positive attitudes while facing difficult circumstances. They can teach us how to face our fears and learn to win.

Face your fears and learn to win

The Bible is full of men and women who could have won awards for their positive attitudes while facing difficult circumstances. Let’s look at a few:

Joseph: Even though he was thrown into a pit by his brothers, put in an Egyptian jail and betrayed by those around him. Joseph’s faith remained strong, trusting that God would use his circumstances for his good.  Ultimately he was made second-in-command of all Egypt, saving the land from famine.

Esther: Even though Esther was an orphaned Hebrew girl, God called her to go to the kingdom of Susa to be presented before the king as a choice for his next queen. She was chosen by King Xerxes and eventually saved her people from destruction.

Paul: Despite suffering beatings, time in prison, rejection, humiliation and shipwrecks, he remained positive and focused on the calling that God had placed on his life.

Face Your Fears

Make a list of things in your life that paralyze you,  from taking risks or from stepping out of your comfort zone.  (Maybe fear of failure, rejection, disapproval?). Now on the opposite side of the page, list action steps you can take to deal with those challenges. (Example: try something new, make the choice to approach someone)

Next think of people who can encourage and pray for you: people you trust and who care about you, a parent, a sibling, a friend, a teacher, a coach, a minister, … Now ask some of them to pray for you.

Now when stress or anxiety appear as a companion of your day, greet it with this prayer: “Lord I choose to trust You today with all of my heart; and I will not lean on my own understanding of this situation. In everything that happens today, I trust that You are my God and that You will lead me down the unique path that was created just for me.”