Faithful

Dealing with anxiety and fear that holds you back (spoken word poem + resources)

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

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)

Power.

Love.

And a sound mind.

These are the things we ought to have. To walk freely in. Instead we might find ourselves feeling weak, unloved or anxious.

This is what fear does. It cripples, breaks and seeks to leave us powerless. But as you've read above, God has not given us the spirit of fear.

But wait. If God hasn't given me fear, then why do I still battle with these feelings?

Because fear will always try. It'll come knocking on your door trying to defeat you. It's not about never feeling fearful. It's about adequately dealing with these fears and ensuring they do not settle within or overcome us.

If you've ever had these thoughts, I'll be sharing some helpful tips on how to deal with fear when it arises. I've also added some extremely useful resources at the end of the post, including a thought-provoking podcast and a powerful sermon to listen to. So...

What is fear?

Fear - a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

Anxiety - distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune.

How can I deal with my fears?

Let's talk about it

Speak on it! To yourself. To a friend. To a therapist. Verbalise the fears that are being magnified in your mind. Write it down. Channel it into some creative activity. Pray. Whatever method suits you best, just let it out!

I find speaking about the things that make me anxious has a unique way of mitigating the fear. When fear is no longer bound inside, there is a release. However, when unspoken, our minds can run wild to our detriment.

Never underestimate the power of speaking to the right people when it comes to dealing with fear.

Give yourself room to feel because you are not alone

Fear is a natural emotion and response.

Sometimes just allowing the emotion to pass is all that needs to be done. #ThisTooShallPass

We all feel fear. Yes, to different degrees but it's still something everyone can relate to. Don't feel ashamed or 'less than' because you're battling with the emotion. Instead acknowledge that you're in the process of overcoming something that many others have fought and defeated.

Replace the lies of fear with the truth of God's Word

To me, God's Word is the key tool for combating feelings of fear and anxiety. Time and time again I've found words of hope, encouragement and peace. All by reading my bible.

At times fear can distort my perception of a situation and so I struggle to tackle it with clarity. Reading the bible brings back reassurance and confidence because I believe there is a true God who has everything under control. Can I get an amen?!

Fear says this will not work out. But the bible says all things will work together for good, for those who love God. What voice will you believe?

Key scriptures to remember when fear tries to take hold:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Feel the fear, and do it anyways

If your fear or anxiety is in relation to doing something outside of your comfort zone, the greatest way to fight it is with action. Take the plunge! Go against the natural inclination to shrink back and take steps forward.

If needed, speak to someone you trust as an accountability partner and share the things you're afraid of doing with them. Ask for help and gentle reminders to nudge you closer and closer to the thing your fear doing.

You can overcome fear and anxiety

Fear is something that still crops up in my life so I am learning to recognise and let go of the fears that hold me back. I hope this poem and blog post has provoked some thought and encouraged you to face your fears head on! Remember to be patient and persistent, because you will overcome.

You are more than your fears.

Further resources on dealing with fear and anxiety:

A great podcast covering Mental Health in general (Cristina's Talk Show)

An amazing video on becoming fearless (Breeny Lee)

A detailed message with tips on how to recognise and deal with anxiety (BBG)

I hope you've enjoyed this spoken word poem, stay tuned on my blog for new poetry content every week and feel free to say hi on socials!

- Faithful xoxo

About the Author:

Faith is a Birmingham based writer. She has a background in drama with a focus on writing poetry, blogs and more.

Through her work, she explores themes such as love, life, faith, passion and purpose. Faith is a true creative at heart and also enjoys videography and editing.

Her debut poetry book, Words of Faith, is available to purchase in store and on Amazon.

Contact: www.wordsoffaith.co.uk

Instagram: @faithdneto

Twitter: @faithdneto

Facebook: @faithdneto

YouTube: Faith Dias Neto

Words of Faith: A collection of poems and verses written to challenge growth .

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