Moving Beyond Your Fears

How could you apply the verse (Joshua 1:9), to help a friend move past their fears of the future? How could you apply the verse to your situation?

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“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

• Fear of Failure: Atychiphobia is an intense fear of failure.  It’s rooted in the Greek word “arches,” meaning “unfortunate. People with atychiphobia avoid any potential for failure such as exams, job interviews, relationships, and opportunities for success.  Avoiding any type of disappointment is easier than facing an actual setback.¹ This type of mindset can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.  For example, if you fear taking a test, the refusal can result in you failing the class.  A fear of failing never allows you to have the opportunity to succeed.  For example, it’s like standing at the starting line of a race choosing to remain idle as the gun sounds all the racers run towards the finish line and you remain alone and defeated.  Why show up?  I am here to tell you just run with the wind.  You will never know where it carries you.

In a world where all you are supposed to do is “win,” it’s difficult to handle defeat.  We are bombarded by social media that winning is everything, and to achieve anything less is failure.  Don’t get me wrong, success is important, but it must be under the right context.  Everyone wants to be a G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Times), yet back in the day, the true word goat meant you were weak or connected with a sheepish characteristic. 

No one wants to fail in front of family, friends, co-workers, etc. No one peers through the morning light to express, “Today is the day I make the most mistakes to become a prime-time loser.” However, avoiding failure or taking ownership of failure paralyzes you.  David was an example of being paralyzed by fear that resulted from one costly mistake which compounded over time for fear of ridicule and disappointment by his nation and army.

All David Knew was winning as king until he committed adultery with Bathsheba. David now had to confront his failure before God and Israel and that intense fear caused him to hide his sin.  David had the opportunity to confess his mistakes before the Lord but continued to lie and hide his dirty laundry from others.  The fear of confessing resulted in an avalanche of destruction for David.

Let’s make a list of David’s dirty laundry and clip it to the clothesline outside to dry.  After reading 2 Samuel 11:1-6, write a creative title for each section of dirty laundry by completing what should have been done.