Fear-free zone

Recently, someone approached me in church and said that we should have a big sign in front of the building that says: Fear-free zone!

Is there such a zone? Is there such a thing as a life without fear? Is the church a fear-free zone where people don’t hurt each other at all? Or are we Christians generally without fear? No, I don’t think so.

I am a fairly optimistic person, but I definitely experience fear from time to time. God made us as emotional beings. Every emotion is good at first. I believe it’s not about not having fear, but about what we do with that fear!

There is only one place that can truly be a fear-free zone from our everyday fears:
being in direct contact with Jesus (or the Holy Spirit or God the Father). When our spirit connects with his Spirit, we can be honest, lay our fears at his feet, let go (!), because we trust him, and then receive Jesus’ thoughts on the situation. And those thoughts are always, without exception, hopeful and encouraging.

It is important that as soon as we notice fear, we immediately take this fear to Jesus in prayer and are completely honest with him. When we are quiet, he will speak to us—in our thoughts, imagination, with images, knowledge, ideas…

With Jesus, the wrong thought that triggers the fear is changed. In many situations I have heard Jesus immediately which was so encouraging. This becomes easier with practice listening to him and trying to be close to him. Sometimes there are deep-rooted issues where I need other people to help me with it. I have used counseling such as SOZO (SOZO is one possibility, there are many others). Other people can help me with listening to Jesus and I don’t have to do it alone.

Nothing is impossible for Jesus! With Jesus, there are no hopeless cases. There is nothing, where Jesus says: Sorry, I can’t do anything, it’s hopeless! No!

When we are hopeless, we have wrong thoughts! They are not true, they do not agree with what the Bible says. It is important that we recognize and renew wrong thought patterns and beliefs!

Some time ago, I realized that I am afraid of being spontaneous because I might say something strange, embarrassing, or even hurtful. That can happen to anyone. But my fear is that my heart is bad because such things come out of it. Is that true? No!
I have chained my inner self so that it cannot show itself, because other people have found it ugly. This is a fear I have had since childhood. My mind knows that it is not true, but the fear is still there.

So I prayed. I spoke honestly, showing Jesus what was in my mind. He welcomed me with open arms, looked at me lovingly, and said, “I love your heart and what’s in it. I want you to show it, it’s a gift for the world!”

Wow, that touched me! These words that immediately changed my thinking! Now I’ll have to strengthen it through practice.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

Even if Jesus doesn’t speak so clearly into your life about all your fears, your thoughts will either lead you to hope or to fear and hopelessness. You can consciously decide to take the path of hope. And then take on the process of practicing it.

This also applies to fears that affect the people around us, who hurt us, reject us, or otherwise frighten us: We can go to Jesus in prayer, first confidently surrender our fears to him, and then ask him what we should know about the situation and what we should do. He always has a solution; nothing is impossible for him!

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3

You can also look at and reflect on the following verses: Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 121:2; John 16:33; Romans 8:28a; Isaiah 35:4.

Be encouraged by God’s Word in the Bible or in prayer, in fellowship with Jesus, the living Word. That’s where the fear-free zone is!