Fear not!
By Charles Christian
Fear makes us do things we normally would not.
While fear is a motivator, it is ultimately the weakest of them. When people are afraid, they may make short-term changes to their behavior. However, studies tell us that fear-based changes don’t last.
No wonder the Bible is filled with reminders not to fear. One writer claims that “Fear not!” is the most repeated command in the scriptures. This doesn’t mean that we are never afraid. In fact, it means that because we as humans are often afraid, we seem to need consistent reminders from God and others that fear does not have to motivate us.
Positive motivators such as encouragement, instruction and compassion may seem weak at first, but they are proven to drive people for much longer periods than fear. Those who use fear as a motivator are bullies. Bullies settle for short-term motivation instead of a long-range change in others. This is often because they value themselves so little that they give up on deeper connections with others. They settle for using others as tools for their immediate plans and then move on.
Not only do bullies leave behind devastated feelings and sometimes chaos in their wake, but they also move through their own lives in greater isolation. This is because they haven’t developed the skills to form long-term connections and because they fail to deal with the issues that keep them feeling isolated.
The refusal to give into fear and choose other forms of motivation not only ultimately defeats the bullies in our lives, but it can also be a source of healing for us as we distance ourselves from the people and events that have harmed us.
“Fear not!” is a timely message in a world where politicians and advertisers too often choose the easy route of fear instead of the healthier way of dialogue and compassion. Refuse to be afraid. You will find the more you distance from those who are using fear as a tool, the healthier you become and the more those voices of fear fade into your past.
