Fear is typically seen as a negative emotion to avoid. And when driven by fear, it can block our ability to love. But fear can also lead us to a life of faith and wisdom.
Fear alerts us to danger – something we care for, desire, or need is threatened. And in overdrive, it seeks to protect us at all cost.
When we operate in fear we see danger everywhere and nothing is certain. We remain on high alert in all our life and relationships.
Eventually, this takes a toll on us, and everyone around us – robbing us of a full life.
But instead of letting fear get the best of us, fear can guide us toward faith and wisdom.
For example, rather than letting the fear of marriage and divorce keep us from getting married, fear can remind us not to take our marriage for granted and to work diligently on the state of our union.
Likewise, rather than the fear of job insecurity keeping us stuck in a dead end position, fear can inspire us to develop our gifts and skills independently of any one particular job.
Used wisely, fear guides us toward a meaningful step of faith – no longer paralyzed by the danger, and freed to courageously move toward the good.
Sometimes our fear is fear itself. And we must accept our fears in order to discern our way forward.
But whatever the case, we don’t have to outright deny fear. We can learn how to use it to protect us and push us into the best version of ourselves.
Fear keeps us alert to the important realities in our life and relationships.
Don’t be overcome by fear. But let fear guide you toward a life of faith and wisdom.
Photo by Angello Lopez on Unsplash
