How to shine in spite of our present and past fears

I didn’t have anything to offer, how could I when I felt inadequate.

In that moment, my past fears and doubts flashed before my eyes. I was reminded of the differences, amplified by the reality before me: I was from another country, spoke and acted differently.

I knew I couldn’t compete and wondered why I had ever thought I had anything to offer. I listened to the voices but heard nothing. I was, once again, in my own world and dealing with my own demons.

Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong? Burdened by the feelings of inadequacy and guilt that somehow you had been let in when you should have been shut out. You wonder why God will allow such an opportunity only for these fears to taunt you and remind you that you are no better than your past.

I believe most of us have suffered an identity crisis. Times where we doubted our gifts and capabilities. Where we believed our past and present fears made us unqualified and irrelevant. Where we longed to hide and hoped no one would notice our flaws.

I need you to know that you are not alone. There have been so many before us who doubted their place and significance. Moses was one those, he believed his “shortcomings” made him unqualified to be used by God.

“Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 4:10

At this point, you could see that Moses felt the weight of his imperfections, while he may have been glad to be used by God, he couldn’t shake off these things that made him different.

The Lord’s response is a powerful reminder of what matters and I believe this is what he is telling every one of us today.

“The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Exodus 4:11-12

Thank God he doesn’t accept our excuses. God still used Moses and because of this, he is forever remembered in the books of history. There was also Elijah, Naomi, Jeremiah and so many others who were besieged by the burdens of their past and their pains.

But we need to overcome these limitations; we need to strive to live the life we were created for despite these fears. Here are four things to help us overcome our past and present fears.

How to shine in spite of our past and present fears:

1. Accept that you are only human

I believe our first call is to accept that we are fallible. We are not perfect and will never be perfect. There will always be something we need to face and deal with. There will always be weaknesses, shortcomings and inadequacies.

“It may help to understand human affairs to be clear that most of the great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused, not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally bad, but by people being fundamentally people.”

Neil Gaiman (Good Omens)

We also have to understand that people may not always look past these perceived shortcomings and we have to be fine with this and shine, in spite of what they say or do.

 

2. Hold on to God’s promises

While we need to accept these imperfections, it is also important that we recognize our source. We need to remember whose we are and hold on to what he has said and continues to say about us.

Here are a few of his promises:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

 

“And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

 

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

 

3. Choose joy 

For me, joy, is a feeling of true delight and happiness which is buoyed by the word of God. It is a state that is not determined by our current circumstances or reality. It provides room in uncertainty and calm in the storm.

“Without pain, how can we know joy?” The first time I read this statement by John Green, it felt like a flood of waters breezed through my limbs, making me numb yet full. I ruminated on this question for a while and couldn’t deny its implication. How do you appreciate a state if it is no different from the previous state, joy without sorrow or love without hate? The Psalmist had this to say

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:19

For the Psalmist, the word of God was the balm that soothed his anxious heart. Are you ready and willing to choose joy?

We have to make a conscious decision to choose joy in those moments when we are anxious, scared, frustrated, afraid and timid.

 

4. You were born to shine

I will be the first to confess that the idea of shinning is hard to accept especially when we were constantly told to dim our “light” in the guise of humility. I would later find out that what I was practicing was ‘false humility’. It wasn’t pure but was predicated on what people will think and say. It was just enough humility that I wouldn’t be considered proud. Are you also guilty of this?

Our call to shine is not about us but about the one who made us. We are merely God’s messengers on earth, which means the need to break out of our comfort zones; to step forth in faith and do the things we are scared of is ultimately not about us but about him.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

 

Are you ready to shine in spite of your fears?

There are times when Christian encouragement and the word of God seems impractical, like it is the wrong thing to do or say. But I have realized that the truth cannot be hidden. It is only His word and our relationship with him that can set us free from the bondage of our pains and fears.

Even when it seems impossible, impracticable and unrealistic, we have to choose God’s word. We have to remove the world-rimmed glasses and put on our faith-full glasses.

Our lives remain a mirror for those to come, a reflection for those who seek understanding and guidance. We have to decide how we want it to look. Do we want to be remembered as those who were able to overcome despite our problems and fears? I pray so.

I do hope you’ve found these points helpful, do let me know how it goes. All the best!