A previous post, Fear Holding People Back?, contained an acrostic of the word FEAR with each letter representing something people can “do” to work through fears. We need to take action steps but without some core beliefs, we might soon be right back in the grip of our fears and insecurities.
We need confidence based on realities grounded in our God and His Word. We can replace fear with confidence when it’s based on God, not a self-confidence which potentially leads to self-distrust and self-doubt as we discover we’re not all-knowing and all-powerful and hence not able to always be in control of every circumstance.
An Acrostic Showing the Kind of Confidence Needed to Replace Fears
C – Convictions rooted in God and His Word (Rom. 14:7-13; 1 Tim. 1:3-4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Self-opinionated teachers may find themselves fearful when the validity of their teaching comes into question.
O – Optimism from the hope we have in God. (Ps. 42:11; 71:5; Rom. 15:13; 2 Cor. 3:12)
Self-generated positive thinking can turn back to fearfulness when Bible teachers can no longer find good in their circumstances.
N – Navigation guided by God’s wisdom and understanding (Ps. 111:10; Prov. 3:5-6)
Self-directed teachers may have a difficult time navigating through the unknowns and become afraid, not knowing what to do.
F – Fortification sought from God who is our refuge, deliverer, shield (Ps. 27; 62:6-7)
Self-protective teachers already operate from the fear of getting hurt or failing. Their fear only gets compounded when they discover they can’t shield themselves from the unexpected.
I – Identity found in the Lord and who we are in Him (Col. 2:9-10; 3:1-3; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 Jn. 3:1-2)
Self-worth gets shattered by our own failings leading to fear of what others will think about us as teachers.
D – Dependence on the One who is always with us (Heb. 13:5-6)
Self-reliance leaves us feeling alone and unappreciated when we aren’t stoked, making us afraid our efforts are in vain.
E – Empowerment from the Lord. (Phil. 4:13;Isa. 41:10; 2 Cor. 3:4-5)
Self-sufficiency turns to a fear of inadequacy when we’re up against a question we can’t answer, a method we can’t master, or any other obstacle in our teaching that’s too hard for us.
N – Nourishment through abiding in Christ and His Word (Jn. 15)
Self-help and self-improvement plans often don’t sustain us as they tend to only provide a temporary fix because they don’t address the heart issues behind many of our fears.
C – Certainty placed only on that which God terms as such (Ps. 102:25-28; 119:89; Isa. 40:8; Matt. 24:35; Heb. 13:8; James 1:17)
Self-imposed expectations for how your class should respond, the kind of support leaders should provide, etc. will undoubtedly meet with disappointments along the way. Discouragements then lead to doubts about whether we should be teaching.
E – Endurance embraced as a patient waiting and trusting in God during which time we can thrive (Heb. 10:35-39; 12:1-4)
Self-fulfilled teachers have a hard time grasping the big picture and tend to merely survive rather than thrive, often riddled with questions about the worth of what they’re doing and a desire to quit.
Self-confidence will only take us so far before fear creeps in. But, because we have a God who is omniscient and omnipotent, He’s sovereign in every situation. Confidence in God can therefore replace fear.