Confident in Spite of Fear

Scripture: Isaiah 41:8, 2 Timothy 1:7

Icebreaker Activity

Fear in a Hat Game

Give everyone a piece of paper and a pen. Have them write down something they fear or worry about without including their name. Collect the paper and redistribute the pieces to each person. Have the first person read what was written and explain how they think that makes the person who wrote it feel. Do not allow any other person to comment and then go to the next person and repeat. This allows our fears to be brought to light, which takes away some of their power, while giving people an empathetic understanding of each other. This can create great discussion and unity among the group.

Facing Fear

As a child did you ever stand at the top of the stairs that led to a basement, but were afraid to even take that first step? If you have, you may recall the feeling of fear as you imagined all the things that were awaiting down there in the dark. Fear is “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/) Fear has been programmed into our nervous system to help protect us. It makes us alert to danger and prepares us to deal with it.

Our body reacts to fear by releasing stress hormones called cortisol and adrenaline. Your heart rate and blood pressure start to increase, and you begin to breathe faster. Even your blood flow changes — blood actually flows away from your heart and into your limbs, giving you the ability to fight or run away if need.

Although fear was designed to assist us, for many, it can hurt us more than help us. I am someone who knew fear as a close friend. It was intertwined in my every decision. But unlike a friend that helped me through life, it made me feel like I was enslaved to a master. It wasn’t until God called me down into the basement of my fear to break the chains that kept me prisoner that I was finally free.

God called my family to serve in a foreign country. It was there that I was surrounded by all my fears. I’d love to say that not one of them happened, but actually, every single fear arose while we were there. But guess what… so did God. It wasn’t until God took me by my hand that I learned that there was nothing that was bigger than He was. He would sustain, empower, and give me victory over every chain of fear that was attached to my heart.

Jesus knew this would be something his children would struggle with, and so like a good father, he gave us His Spirit to empower us and His word to hold on to. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity—but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Tim. 1:7, NLT). It’s no coincidence that our Heavenly Father gave us 365 verses in the Bible for every day of the year to command us to “fear not.” One of those verses is found in Isaiah 41:10 and it says, “Do not fear anything, for I am with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will certainly take hold of you with my righteous right hand” (NIV).

God wants to take hold of your hand to lead you through the places you fear, showing you that you have nothing to be afraid of. The God of this universe whose hands created everything will not let go of your hand. He will empower you through the darkness, showing you the promise of victory is yours through Christ Jesus.

Craft Activity

Invite the women to make journals listing some of their favorite verses about fear. The following is a link to an easy journal craft: https://usw-womensministries.org/january-2024-craft-lets-make-a-journal/. This site suggests scripture verses about fear. https://believersportal.com/list-365-fear-not-bible-verses/

Begin to write about the things in your heart, the things that you struggle with, your fears. List the things you need God’s help with. Watch as God holds you and help you through your fears. At the end of the month look back on your entries and see that God never left you and heard your every word.

Practical Tools for Dealing with Fear

• Watch what you put into your mind. Limit news, scary movies/shows, and fear driven conversations. Think of your mind as a bank, what you put in will be what you will think about.
• Print out verses that command us “not to fear” and place them in areas you often visit. Have the women share their favorite verse about dealing with fear. Here are some great ones:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalms 27:1 NIV

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalms 56:3-4 NIV

• Create a worship song playlist that will bring peace to your heart. Fear cannot coincide with praise. *Suggested playlist on Apple Music-Worship for Anxiety, Spotify -Worship Songs for Anxiety
• Seek counseling. There is no shame if you feel fear has taken over your life. Sometimes there are chemical imbalances that a professional can access and make suggestions for further help. (Change of diet, therapy, or medication.)