FACING FEARS

Some days ago, I had to do something that literally had me using one hand to hide the other where I stood, cos that hand was shaking badly. I was the perfect picture you'd have needed at that moment for the phrase, "trembling in fear".

Now you might be wondering what on earth I had been trying to do or thinking maybe it was something incredibly massive, and that was why I trembled so much. In hindsight though, I don't think it was worth such a reaction from me (something I finally have the mind to say now, because I've gone through it) and I'm sure a good number of us would have thought so as well.

But at that point, we'd have all been thinking our own oh (my present self included)! Because right there, as I stood before men and women I felt could (and would) grind me verbally and mentally, like an insect, I was freaking out and sweating up a storm (though 'stream' would have been a better description then).

That's the thing we can all relate with about our fears—to others, they might not look like such a big deal. But in our mind's eye, they're our biggest issues yet!

And the painful truth is that, till we address them, they stay right there in our subconscious—always taunting us; leaving us trembling (mentally and physically), with our mouths very dry.

So,—you may be asking—you want me to go and 'face my fears' ba? Shey you know fears have grades sha.

And this is actually the truth. There are some fears that all we need to do to get over them is to close our eyes just that one time and do it! But there are others—those ones that take us progressively facing them for days, months or even years to be able to truly say we have overcome.

And the latter ones are really tasking. Because every day, we have to remind ourselves of our reasons for facing them. We have to give ourselves those pep-talks, remind ourselves of those visions, or chant that scripture over and over again, so we're motivated to keep moving, and crushing those fears.

There's good news though. The 'law of progression' (as I've dubbed it), still applies here: after the first time, most things become easier to do!

It might be a slight difference at first, but if you observe yourself, you'll notice it anyways. You might find out on your second try, that you're not holding your breath or walking on eggshells as much. You're slowly but surely acclimatising! This is one gift God has placed in man, that shows up in the life of everyone.

It may not be easy during your first try. Or sometimes, it just might! Those are the times when we let out our breaths, our eyes widen in pleased wonder, and we began to ask ourselves what had kept us from doing this for so long. Be that as it may, whether it's easy at the very first try or not, if you have a reason why you need to face that fear, it'll keep you going.

Personally, I usually tell myself this:

"Ofure, you're going to stand before kings and not mere men! You're going to go through tough seasons once in a while. Well, how do you intend to do all that, if you still feel awkward about starting up conversations, or if you're still as scared of failing then, as you are right now?!"

Telling myself these words and bringing my dreams and visions before my eyes again, gives me that push I need to grit my teeth, set my face like the proverbial flint (while remembering to smile of course), and move on, to face my daily fears.

What about you beloved? What fear are you battling with? The only way to ever truly be free of it, is to face it and not run away from it. Sure it might happen in bits and pieces. But really, that's okay.