In 2011, Kirk Franklin released an album titled ‘Hello Fear’. In the title track of the album, he personifies fear as a former lover. The lyrics enact a long break-up monologue that the persona addresses to fear as they finally end their toxic relationship. The first line goes like this:
‘Hello fear…before you sit down there’s something I need to explain…’
Some time ago, as I was interrogating the emotional landscape of my heart, I realized that fear has been a very impactful yet seemingly hidden emotion that negatively influenced many of the choices I’ve made in the past. This discovery led me to do a brief study about fear.
One of the verses I came across was from 2 Timothy 1:7. In the NKJV it reads:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Just as Kirk Franklin personified fear in his song, I thought it might be interesting if I applied the same concept and personified power, love and a sound mind in my imagination.
If these 3 could speak to me just as I was reeling from my break-up with fear, what would they say? After a lot of thought, here is what I came up with:
Power says: ”Find a safe place and create boundaries”
Being in a dangerous place almost immediately instills feelings of fear. It is quite difficult for you to be void of fear as you walk along a deserted alley in the middle of the night. When it comes to eliminating fear, location is key. Power enables you to find a safe place and create boundaries. In the same way that entering your house and locking the doors make you feel secure on an eerie night, creating boundaries within your heart is crucial to achieving a sense of security. This place of safety could look different for different people. The secret is to make sure that you are intentionally monitoring your thoughts, words and actions in such a way that your decisions are geared towards creating a safe space within your mind and heart.
Love says: “Find safety in numbers”
Fear flourishes in isolation. On the other hand, love thrives in community. When faced with danger, one of the first instincts that most people would have is to call for help. In order to overcome fear, it is important for you to find the right people who will walk with you. A crucial point to note is that your community needs to be comprised of the right people. These are the individuals who allow you to be your authentic self and furthermore, they are able and willing to help you combat any incoming threat. For one reason or another, at times you might not be able to find a suitable community that makes you feel secure. In such instances, have no worries because God is always present. He can and will be more than enough.
A sound mind says: “Hope for the best but prepare for the worst”
Fear has a way of confusing our mind and causing us to do irrational things. You might recall the acute toilet paper shortage that occurred in the first few weeks of the Coronavirus pandemic when panicked shoppers invaded supermarkets and bought as many rolls of toilet paper as they could find. This is just one example of the ways in which fear can lead to unimaginable chaos and panic. Rather than allow fear to drive our actions, we need to have a sound mind which logically analyses each situation, weighs the level of threat posed and thereby plans out an appropriate course of action which will ensure maximum safety without causing unnecessary panic. When you calmly interrogate the situation at hand and prepare in the appropriate way, then you will soon realize that there is no need to be afraid because you will be ready to face whatever might come your way.
Don’t allow fear to rob you of the amazing potential you have to learn, grow, succeed and become everything you were created to be. What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
-RR🌸
Relaxed Ruby 