If I asked you to think about the role fear has in your life, you would probably say it is a block. You don’t want to feel or have iit n your life. Fear is an obstacle to achieving your goals and doing what you have been called to do.

Fear has no good purpose. It keeps us stagnant, not moving forward, and leads to missed opportunities because we are afraid to try new things. Fear also focuses the brain on the worst outcomes and stops us from thinking things through. This then leads to bad decisions or paralysis to act.

Fear has been a force in the pandemic. It fuels cancel culture and stops us from doing the right thing. So, examine your fears. Over and over, Scripture tells us not to fear. No good thing comes from it.

Here are a few of those fears to ponder. What role do they have in your life? Do they hold you back? Keep you stuck?

Fear of loneliness

No one likes to be alone, but when fear motivates you to stay in an unhealthy relationship, it doesn’t go well. If you find yourself saying, “Well he’s not the best person, but I don’t see anyone else out there for me,” that is fear. Trust God to bring the right person in your life at the right time.

Or if you stay in an unhealthy friendship because you are afraid of missing out, rethink why you stay in such a relationship. How does that person encourage you or contribute to the friendship? And if you allow so-called cyber-friends to be negative on social media, rethink why you need to be on these platforms and take this abuse. At the root is usually FOMO (fear of missing out).

Fear of failure

No one likes to fail. It’s embarrassing. There is actually a phobia related to failure. It’s called atychiphobia, an irrational and persistent fear of failing. It is immobilizing and can cause you to do nothing.

This type of fear is linked to a number of causes. For instance, having critical or unsupportive parents leads to feelings of insecurity or fear of being humiliated. That fear of failure can carry to adulthood, making you think you aren’t good enough to accomplish things.

Also, experiencing a traumatic event or personally humiliating event can lead to fear of failure. For example, several years ago you gave an important presentation in front of a large group, and you did poorly. The experience might have been so negative that you became afraid of failing in other areas. You lost your confidence. And you carry that fear even now, years later.

But consider this when it comes to failure. Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was cut from his high school basketball team because his coach didn’t think he had enough skill! Can you imagine if he had allowed that failure to define him?

Failure is a part of life. Turn it around. Learn from failure. Don’t let it define you and keep you from accomplishing your goals.

Fear of uncertainty

Maybe through the pandemic, we embraced this fear a little better. Few things have been certain. We have been forced to live with not knowing. Uncertainty is a part of life because we don’t know tomorrow. We can’t always get things right and have to make decisions with what we do know at the time.

However, we are assured of one thing–our salvation. God is present in our lives and works for us when we trust Him. His Spirt lives in us and helps us to discern things. So be guided by the Spirit, especially in times of uncertainty. This is a bonus of the Christian life.

And it is reassuring to know we can have God’s peace in the middle of uncertainty, “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6). It’s clear that perfect love (God’s love) casts out all fear.

So right now, think about what makes you afraid, what fears may be holding you back from accomplishing all God has for you. Then go to God, give Him those fears, take authority over them. The name of Jesus is powerful to drive out fear. Finally, focus on the positives and the goodness of God. Don’t let fear hold you back.