By Ben Mandrell
“What are you afraid of?” Recently, I threw that question at my four elementary school-aged kids. As they devoured their morning oatmeal, I took inventory of their most menacing fears. The results were as follows:
1. The dark
2. Getting an “F” on a test
3. Being sent to the principal’s office
4. Mean dogs
5. Going to the dentist
6. Burglars breaking in at night
7. Man-eating crocodiles
According to the four kids under my roof, these are the primary causes of childhood ulcers.
What Do We Do With Fear?
We would be lying if we said that fear is a childish emotion, however. Just like our crumby-faced kids, we civilized adults carry our own secret lists of anxieties. As you read this, surely you could hit pause and put to paper seven things you’re feeling stressed about: the results from yesterday’s blood work, your oldest child’s life choices, your supervisor’s vague hints about “restructuring.” Your list would come forth in a jiffy.
So what are we supposed to do with our pet fears? How do we handle the inevitable anxieties of life? Personally, I like the way Abraham Lincoln handled his pressure. When reminded of his growing list of assassins, he responded: “I know I am in danger, but I am not going to worry over little things like these … If I am killed I can die but once, but to live in constant dread is to die over and over again.”
Scripture confirms the counsel of our 16th President. Fear only gains ground in our lives when it is let off its leash. For this reason, we are told to dismantle our doomsday thinking by injecting more uplifting material: “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things (Phil. 4:8 HCSB).” As a pastor friend of mine once said, “Every day, we get to choose what we focus on.”
Focusing on Faith
Confession: 2013 was a year of taking risks and facing many fears on my list. In November, I preached my last sermon as senior pastor of a megachurch and signed on the next day as a church planter with the North American Mission Board. I’ve done some crazy stuff in my life, but this one takes the cake, for sure.
From the moment we first sensed the missionary call, my wife and I took front-row seats on the emotional roller coaster. The ride has left us feeling a little woozy at times; we have had unforeseen meltdowns and a few hushed days since making the choice to leave the church we love.
In this bittersweet season of life, I have heard the internal announcer declare: “Let the head games begin!” The fear questions quickly followed: “What if the new church never leaves the ground? What if your kids hate their new school (and then hate you)? What if this decision is ‘career suicide’? What if you face financial struggles? What if you misheard God in the first place!?” Like a flood, these doubts have seeped past the door and entered my mind.
As I have become increasingly acquainted with my list of fears, it has become my conviction that the Devil does his best work inside the human mind. Isaiah’s ancient words come quickly to my rescue, “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You (26:3).” Every fear that I feel is a new invitation to entrust my future to Him, to make the Lord the chief executor of my estate. It’s all in His hands, now. In this way, fear has become a friend.
As I close, let me be practical for a moment, suggesting one way to re-booting the mind when fear creates confusion. This simple exercise has helped me a great deal.
1. Write down the ridiculous questions that are being asked in your head. Example:
“What if you fail miserably on this new project?”
2. Draw a line through the fear question, replacing it with a faith question:
“What if you fail miserably on this new project?”
“What if God makes this project far greater than you ever imagined?”
See the difference? “We become what we think about all day long,” quipped Ralph Waldo Emerson. Let’s give faith a try.
Ben Mandrell is currently preparing to pastor the church plant, Storyline Fellowship, which will be based in Denver. Previously, Ben served as senior pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in West Tennessee. He is the author of the Bible study, Do Over: Experience New Life in Christ.
