I love what Mark Twain said, "I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, most of which, never happened."
I think it's safe to say that I've feared far more things than have actually happened in my life. What a shame.
Fear paralyzes progress. Fear keeps you in bad jobs. Fear keeps you single. Fear keeps you in the same town your whole life. Fear keeps you from following your God-given dreams.
Every morning, I have to spend at least 30 minutes praying and banishing fear from my life. It slowly creeps up on me each day and blankets me in the mornings.
What's interesting is that whenever I imagine the scenario of my worst fears coming true... it's not actually that bad. =) Honestly, it simplifies my life.
I was talking to a pastor the other day who is on his second church plant. He said that failing was a gift from God because it taught him that he didn't have all that much to fear.
Not a sermon. Just a blog post.
Awesome!
Posted by: Rosalie | July 09, 2009 at 01:08 PM
love your writing. keep it up. thanking God for your fearlessness!
Posted by: Ryan Sanders | July 09, 2009 at 01:45 PM
True.
Posted by: Marcus Williamson | July 09, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Great post and food for thought. Thanks!
Posted by: KJ Smith | July 09, 2009 at 10:37 PM
So true. It wasn't until I failed that I truly lived.
Posted by: Chris Sullivan | July 10, 2009 at 01:32 AM
Hi Ben,
I've read your blog for a couple years now but I've never commented before. However, this entry challenged me and I knew I couldn't pass it by without comment.
So for my first comment, I just say: thank you.
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea | July 10, 2009 at 03:09 PM
thanks Andrea. and glad you spoke up =)
Posted by: Ben Arment | July 10, 2009 at 04:03 PM
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Love that quote. Fits this post so well. Just wish it was as easy for me to live it as it is to type it. :)
Posted by: Daniel Decker | July 10, 2009 at 11:59 PM