December 27 Fear This!

As a leader of a family, business, or group it might seem that we have more to fear because of more people being involved. But our fears are mostly of things that are not truly dangerous. Fears are relevant because we have a desire to survive.

Many of our fears are of our lack of comfort and for survival. When team members work with us, we can begin to be fearful about the team members’ survival also. But our survival needs today are not what they were thousands of years ago.

As leaders, are we satisfied with something so small as simple survival or are we wanting more? I believe that as a leader our main fear should be of being less than our team is capable of being. Our best fear could be of being less than what our minds believe is the best of who we are.

That is the kind of fear that will produce a great result instead of complacency or settling. Who on your team might be focused on too small of a fear? Where are you as a leader, fearing something too small?

I suspect the best things to be fearful of are the things that we are willing to address because of the risk. Here are two fears that a leader might have. One could fear a team member leaving. Another fear could be of the entire team leaving.

Which fear would you address if both were to happen to you? I suspect it would be the entire team leaving. The best news about finding bigger fears and obstacles is that they likely represent bigger opportunities as well.

Are you willing to think bigger this week for the future of your team? What is the first thing that you can do about it in the next seven days?
 

Being a Christian does not make us have less fears. As humans our brains are designed to recognize fear. In fact, our brains pay five times the amount of attention to fears then as to the positive things in our lives. But I do not think that is what Jesus wants in our relationship with Him.

We read, “How joyful are those who fear the Lord—all who follow his ways!” Psalms 128:1 Should we fear the challenges of this world, or should we fear having to face them without Jesus? As people who know the Lord Jesus Christ, we can jump up from our comforts and claim the glory that is before us.

Where are you comfortable and fearing losing that comfortableness? If a robber were to come and take three things from you, what three things do you want to keep safe from their crime? Did your list include Jesus? Losing Jesus is the fear that is worthy of our attention.

May our comfortableness be focused on that first. All other fears are secondary, they are real, but secondary. Where do you need to transform your fears as Jesus wants? Living without Christ restricts us to the expectations of this world. We can experience more love and less fear when we focus on following him.

Leading in one’s faith will help us to prioritize the fears, but it can be difficult to do. Who can you trust to assist you in doing an inventory to find a bigger life with Christ? What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, Master of all, you know us. You know our hearts and minds which includes our fears. Find us in our comfort and meet us today. Open our ears and eyes to see that our fears can keep us from you.

Split the fog so that we see through the fears to see you on the other side. Make us know your presence as easily as we know when our clothes we wear are dripping with water. Bring your living water to soak our souls. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,

Mark Queen

Founder, Core Score, LLC.

Navigator for Entrepreneurs

Coach of Business Tribes