Paralyzing Fear

 

In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States of America. He entered into the nation’s highest office during exceedingly difficult times. The country was in the midst of the Great Depression, and it was Roosevelt’s task to help the American people regain faith in themselves. It was during his induction speech that he relayed a message of hope by promising prompt and diligent action. He opened his address with these words: “I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impels. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honesty facing conditions in our country today. This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive, and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Is fear paralyzing you today? Is fear freezing your efforts to live life?

"Depression" is a word often used and misused by modern Americans. True clinical depression (also known as "Major Depressive Disorder" or MDD) comes from biological root causes such as brain chemistry or hormone imbalance, bipolarism, etc. This type of depression needs treatment by a medical practitioner. Often, what is called "depression" by the average American is not MDD. It is an intense sadness. A common factor among those who have this intense sadness is that they lack hope and are discouraged, which can possibly be brought on by fear of the unknown. To pull out of this form of "depression," may I suggest the following steps. First, pray with faith: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have ask of him” (1 John 5:14-15). Second, focus on others: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Third, do something nice for someone else. And this verse holds a promise to Godly people: "Whoever brings blessings will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered" (Proverbs 11:25). In reality, this intense sadness (often mislabeled as depression) comes from focusing on self. Whenever we focus on the good of others, we will find our feelings of sadness drifting away to be replaced by joy.

[Matthew 28:19-20] Fear is a de-motivator. It is a thief capable of stealing our zeal and conviction; it hampers our efforts, and it paralyzes the church. One of the primary hindrances to evangelism is fear. Fear of having a door slammed in our face, of severing a relationship that’s important to us. Fear of not being able to refute opposing arguments. Fear of rejection. Fear and success are incompatible when it comes to carrying out The Great Commission. When fear dominates one’s thinking, a person refuses to step out and do what God intends. We must be a person that, as Roosevelt asserted years ago, converts retreat to advance; overcoming that nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror that paralyzes needed efforts. It is time to speak the truth, the whole truth, boldly. We mustn’t allow fear to incapacitate us and cause us to shirk our responsibility of carrying the gospel into a lost world. As God’s children we have an awesome responsibility to be His voice, His hands, and His feet in the world. It is up to us to carry His message to a dying people. Every time a Christian succumbs to fear and plays it safe, that’s one less messenger available to get the Word out. We have not been given a spirit of timidity (2 Timothy 1:7).